Compare towns
Hamilton vs Paxton vs Spencer
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).
Paxton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
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 | Paxton | Spencer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
5,002Lowest |
12,008Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
| Spencer 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% |
17.4%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Paxton 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% |
18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.7% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$134,083±$8kHighest 29% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
| Paxton and Hamilton 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 |
$472,300±$29k 16% below MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,386±$88 21% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
| Hamilton and Paxton 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 |
$7,129 19% above MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest 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 | #219 of 282 in MA | #261 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Wachusett | Spencer-E Brookfield |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town | David Prouty High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.