Compare towns
Hamilton vs Ipswich vs Stow
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).
Ipswich has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 | Ipswich | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
13,930Highest |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Ipswich and Stow 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% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8% MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Ipswich 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 |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Ipswich and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| 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 67% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Stow 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% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Ipswich | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Ipswich High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.