Compare towns
Hamilton vs Rowley vs Upton 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).
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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 | Rowley | Upton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600 |
6,251Lowest |
8,189Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Rowley and Upton 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% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Upton 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% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Rowley 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% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Stow and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$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±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| 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 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Triton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.