Compare towns
Stow vs Hatfield 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%).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k 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 | Hatfield | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165 |
3,325Lowest |
7,600Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
46.8±5Highest 17% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Hatfield 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% |
14%±4.3Lowest 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% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hatfield 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% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Hatfield 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 |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% 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 |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% 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 |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Hatfield | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| 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.