Compare towns
Hamilton vs Harvard vs Maynard 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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 | Harvard | Maynard | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600 |
6,927Lowest |
10,712 |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Maynard and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Hamilton 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Maynard 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% |
62%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Groton 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
| Harvard and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
| Harvard and Groton 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 |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Maynard 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,266Lowest 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #36 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Harvard | — | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | The Bromfield High School | — | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
11.0Lowest |
— | 13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.