Compare towns
Danvers vs Hamilton vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 | Danvers | Hamilton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Highest |
7,600 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Danvers and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Stow and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Hamilton 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hamilton-Wenham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town |
| 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.