Compare towns
Hamilton vs Stow vs Whitman
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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Whitman has the most affordable homes ($473k 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 | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
7,165Lowest |
15,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
21.1%±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%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Stow 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% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Whitman 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 |
$108,933±$14kLowest 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$472,700±$12kLowest 16% 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 |
$1,771±$151Lowest 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Whitman 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest 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 | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Nashoba | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — |
| 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.