Compare towns
Hamilton vs Stow vs Ware
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).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Stow | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
7,165Lowest |
10,048Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Stow 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% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Ware 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Ware 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 |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below 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 |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Nashoba | Ware |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.