What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k median).

Lexington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hamilton	Lexington
People
Population	7,600Lowest	34,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA	47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	24%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lexington 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%	21.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hamilton and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	84.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA	$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA	$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average	$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8%	50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hamilton and Lexington 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%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 11% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#36 of 282 in MA	#2 of 282 in MA
School district	Hamilton-Wenham	Lexington
High school in town	Hamilton-Wenham Regional High	Lexington High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.