Compare towns
Deerfield 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
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Deerfield | Hamilton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
7,600Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Deerfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Deerfield and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14kLowest about the MA average |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37kLowest 26% below 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 | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest 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 | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Lowest 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Hamilton-Wenham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.8Highest |
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| 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.