Compare towns
Hamilton vs Mendon vs Paxton
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 expensive homes ($720k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k median).
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 | Mendon | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600Highest |
6,325 |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Mendon 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% |
22.8%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Mendon 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% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Paxton 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% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA |
| Paxton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,840±$196Highest 4% above MA |
$1,386±$88Lowest 21% below MA |
| Mendon 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 |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$7,129Lowest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9% MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Paxton 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Mendon-Upton | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
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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.