Compare towns
Hamilton vs Williamstown vs Wenham
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).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Wenham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Williamstown | Wenham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
9,150Highest |
4,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
37.5±6.9 6% below MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
| Hamilton and Williamstown 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% |
15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Wenham 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% |
24.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Williamstown 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamstown and Wenham 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 |
$106,650±$25kLowest about the MA average |
$194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$437,100±$39kLowest 22% below MA |
$885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,584±$292Lowest 10% below MA |
— |
| Hamilton and Williamstown 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 |
$5,290Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±15.4 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
11.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
16 minLowest 45% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.3%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wenham and Williamstown 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 | #45 of 282 in MA | #74 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Mount Greylock | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Mt Greylock Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.