Compare towns
Hamilton vs Spencer 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).
Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k 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 | Spencer | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
12,008Highest |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Spencer 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Spencer 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 25% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% 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±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% 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 |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest 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% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Spencer-E Brookfield | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | David Prouty High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.9Lowest |
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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.