Compare towns
Rowley vs Hamilton vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Hamilton has the most homeowners (84.7%).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Rowley | Hamilton | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
7,600 |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
| Rowley and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
| Acton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
| Acton and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Lowest 39% 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 | 57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest 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 | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Hamilton 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Hamilton-Wenham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.