Compare towns
Hamilton vs Marlow vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the shortest commute (32 min average).
Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k median).
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 | Marlow | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600Highest |
855Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Marlow 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marlow and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hamilton and Stow 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 61% above U.S. |
$110,455±$12kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
| Stow and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,826Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Marlow School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.