Compare towns
Hamilton vs Ware vs Groton 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Groton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Ware | Groton | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600 |
10,048 |
11,390Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
| Harvard and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Hamilton 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Groton 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Harvard and Groton 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Harvard and Groton 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
| Hamilton and Groton 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #36 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Ware | Groton-Dunstable | Harvard |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Groton Dunstable Regional | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
11.1 |
13.7Highest |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.