Compare towns
Hamilton vs Harvard vs Princeton
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).
Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Princeton has the most affordable homes ($521k median).
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 | Princeton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600Highest |
6,927 |
3,529Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
| Princeton and Harvard 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% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Princeton 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% |
20.9%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
59.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Harvard 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$158,750±$46k 53% above MA |
| Harvard and Princeton 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 |
$520,500±$48kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
| Hamilton and Harvard 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 |
$6,633Lowest 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Princeton 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% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #36 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #59 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Harvard | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.