Compare towns
Stow vs Hampton vs Hudson vs Hamilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k 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 | Hampton | Hudson | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
16,426 |
20,077Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.5±2.1 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
$129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22kLowest 49% above U.S. |
$720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
| 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 26% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,794±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #224 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Hudson | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Hudson High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
10.2 |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.