Compare towns
Williamstown vs Hingham vs Hamilton vs Boxborough
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).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Hamilton has the most homeowners (84.7%).
Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Hingham | Hamilton | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,150 |
24,283Highest |
7,600 |
5,496Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.9% MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,650±$25kLowest about the MA average |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$144,611±$35k 39% above MA |
| Hingham and Boxborough 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 |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,584±$292Lowest 10% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,887±$173 7% above MA |
| Hingham and Boxborough 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Hingham 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 45% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.3%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Williamstown 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mount Greylock | Hingham | Hamilton-Wenham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Mt Greylock Regional High | Hingham High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.9Highest |
11.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.