Compare towns
Stow vs Westminster 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 the highest household income ($186k).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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 | Westminster | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
8,374Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Westminster 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% |
21.3%±4.4Lowest 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% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
45.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 79% above MA |
$106,331±$22kLowest about the MA average |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% 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±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
| Westminster 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 |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Ashburnham-Westminster | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | Oakmont Regional High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.