Compare towns
Devens 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
Devens has the most affordable homes ($557k median).
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 | Devens | Hamilton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
7,600Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Devens and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63kHighest 82% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
| Devens and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kLowest about the MA average |
$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 | $1,500±$539Lowest 15% 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 | $5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Devens 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 | — | #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.