Compare towns
Hamilton vs Maynard vs Williamstown 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).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Maynard | Williamstown | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600 |
10,712Highest |
9,150 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±3.4Lowest 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%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Williamstown 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% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.9% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$106,650±$25kLowest about the MA average |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$437,100±$39kLowest 22% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| 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±$394 about the MA average |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,584±$292Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Maynard 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 |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$5,290Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±15.4 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% MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
11.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
73.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
16 minLowest 45% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.3%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Williamstown 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #45 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Maynard | Mount Greylock | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Maynard High | Mt Greylock Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.7Lowest |
11.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.