Compare towns
Northborough vs Rowley vs Hamilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northborough has the most affordable homes ($561k median).
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Northborough | Rowley | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,392 |
6,251Lowest |
7,600Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±3.1 22% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Rowley and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.5% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,839±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
| Northborough and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $560,500±$35kLowest about the MA average |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
| Hamilton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,135±$202Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
| Hamilton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,432Lowest 24% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±22.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 25.3%±11.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Northborough 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 | #35 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Triton | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| 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.