Compare towns
Dedham vs Hamilton vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Hamilton has the most people working from home (26.3%).
Ipswich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Dedham | Hamilton | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
7,600Lowest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Dedham and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Hamilton-Wenham | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
11.8Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.