Compare towns
Deerfield vs Hamilton vs Sunderland
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 oldest population (median age 51.8).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Sunderland has the most renters (58% rent).
Sunderland is a college town. 25.5% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Sunderland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
7,600Highest |
3,641Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
35.1±1.9Lowest 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±4.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
25.5%±9.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$129,833±$14kHighest 25% above MA |
$68,083±$3kLowest 35% below MA |
| Hamilton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
$458,100±$52k 19% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,672±$151 5% below MA |
| Hamilton and Sunderland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,611Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
72.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Sunderland and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 40% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
17 minLowest 41% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Deerfield 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 | #220 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Hamilton-Wenham | Sunderland |
| 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.