Compare towns
Hamilton vs Berlin vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Hamilton | Berlin | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600Highest |
3,378Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest 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+ | 21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$616,600±$55kLowest 10% 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 | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| Berlin and Hamilton 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 |
$7,116Lowest 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Berlin-Boylston | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town | 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.