Compare towns
North Scituate vs Hamilton vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Scituate has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hamilton has the shortest commute (32 min average).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 | North Scituate | Hamilton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,492Lowest |
7,600Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.9Lowest 6% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% 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 | 26.2%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| North Scituate and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 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+ | 73.3% MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and North Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,329±$38k 35% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Stow and North Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,800±$32kHighest 47% above MA |
$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,595±$191Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,782±$126 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 | $8,601Lowest 44% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 77.8%±24.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Scituate and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 19% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.9%±7.9 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and North Scituate 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 |
| School district | — | Hamilton-Wenham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.