Compare towns
Stow vs Auburn vs Hamilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
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 | Stow | Auburn | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
16,970Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Auburn and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$116,711±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
| Stow and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,467±$155Lowest 17% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Auburn | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | Auburn Senior High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.