Compare towns
Hamilton vs Harvard vs Stoneham
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 the most people working from home (44.8%).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
6,927Lowest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Harvard 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Harvard 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% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Stoneham 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% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Stoneham 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 |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Stoneham 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 |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #36 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Harvard | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | The Bromfield High School | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.0 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.