Compare towns
Boxborough vs Pinehurst vs Hamilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Pinehurst has the most homeowners (97.4%).
Hamilton has the most people working from home (26.3%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Boxborough | Pinehurst | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
6,845 |
7,600Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
42.6±2Lowest 7% above MA |
43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Hamilton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
$146,250±$27kHighest 41% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
| Pinehurst and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$623,800±$22kLowest 11% above MA |
$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
| Hamilton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$1,946±$1kHighest 10% above MA |
$1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average |
| Pinehurst and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,316Lowest 5% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | — | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | — | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.