Compare towns
Hamilton vs Ellsworth vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
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 | Ellsworth | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
8,657Highest |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 12% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Stow and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ellsworth 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hamilton and Ellsworth 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 61% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
| 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±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
| Hamilton and Stow 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 221% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamilton and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #36 of 282 in MA | #63 of 133 in ME | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Ellsworth Public Schools | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 5 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.