Compare towns
Stow vs Thompson 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).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
9,337Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.5±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest 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%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below 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. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$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. |
$3,822Lowest 23% 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% |
54%±18.7Lowest 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 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. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Thompson School District | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.