Compare towns
Hamilton vs Sterling vs Harvard
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).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Harvard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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 | Sterling | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
8,183Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Harvard 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% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
| Hamilton and Sterling 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 |
$6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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% |
6% MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #36 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Wachusett | Harvard |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.