Compare towns
Stow vs Berlin vs Sutton 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 the highest household income ($186k).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k 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 | Berlin | Sutton | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
3,378Lowest |
9,452Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 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%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Hamilton 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% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Berlin 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 |
$121,336±$12kLowest 17% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
| Stow and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% 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 |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Hamilton 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 |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston | Sutton | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sutton High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.