Compare towns
Hamilton vs Windham vs Stow vs Harvard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 | Windham | Stow | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600 |
19,188Highest |
7,165 |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 12% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22k 130% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Stow 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #44 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | RSU 14 | Nashoba | Harvard |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Windham High School | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
12.1Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
U.S. 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.