Compare towns
Williamstown vs Hamilton vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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.
| Measure | Williamstown | Hamilton | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,150 |
7,600Lowest |
18,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA |
43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
| Hamilton and Ashland 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% |
18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,650±$25kLowest about the MA average |
$129,833±$14kHighest 25% above MA |
$127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
| Hamilton and Ashland 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 |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,584±$292Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Ashland and Hamilton 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 |
$7,444 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Ashland 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% MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 45% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.3%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3Lowest 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 | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mount Greylock | Hamilton-Wenham | Ashland |
| High school in town | Mt Greylock Regional High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.8 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.