Compare towns
Devens vs Hamilton vs Wenham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Devens has the most affordable homes ($557k median).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Wenham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% 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 | Devens | Hamilton | Wenham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,723Lowest |
7,600Highest |
4,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±4.3Highest 22% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
| Devens and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 5.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,250±$63k 82% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
| Wenham and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $556,800±$96kLowest about the MA average |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$539Lowest 15% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
— |
| Hamilton and Devens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,556Lowest 7% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±64.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Devens and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 28.5%±11.5 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wenham and Devens 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 | — | #36 of 282 in MA | #74 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hamilton-Wenham | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | — | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.