Compare towns
Stow vs Lancaster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Lancaster | Sutton | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
8,606 |
9,452Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
| Sutton 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Sutton 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 |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 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 |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235 21% 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% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Nashoba | 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.