Compare towns
Stow vs Meredith vs Maynard 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 the highest household income ($186k).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Maynard has the most renters (25% rent).
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 | Meredith | Maynard | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
6,758Lowest |
10,712Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
43.5±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hamilton and Stow 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 130% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$527,400±$31k 59% 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. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,794±$394 27% above U.S. |
| Maynard 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$8,266 165% 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% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 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 |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #166 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Maynard | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Maynard High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
9.7Lowest |
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.