What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).

Hamilton has the most expensive homes ($720k median).

Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Williamstown	Hamilton
People
Population	9,150Highest	7,600Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	-2.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA	43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA
	Hamilton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	24.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Williamstown and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	68.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,650±$25kLowest about the MA average	$129,833±$14kHighest 25% above MA
	Hamilton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$437,100±$39kLowest 22% below MA	$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,584±$292Lowest 10% below MA	$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average
	Hamilton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,290Lowest 12% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hamilton and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Highest MA: 10%	7.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 45% below MA	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	27.3%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6%	26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Williamstown 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	#45 of 282 in MA	#36 of 282 in MA
School district	Mount Greylock	Hamilton-Wenham
High school in town	Mt Greylock Regional High	Hamilton-Wenham Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.