Compare towns
Stow vs Ogunquit vs Hamilton vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k median).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
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 | Ogunquit | Hamilton | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
1,379Lowest |
7,600Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.5±2.1 12% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Hamilton 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hamilton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22k 130% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$720,000±$36kLowest 116% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield 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. |
— | $1,794±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 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 22% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Stow 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 | — | #36 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Hamilton-Wenham | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.