Compare towns
Hamilton vs Dover vs Groton
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 renters (15.3% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
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 | Dover | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
5,930Lowest |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dover and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA |
| Dover and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Groton 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Groton 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
9.8Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| 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.