Compare towns
Hamilton vs Acton vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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 | Hamilton | Acton | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600Lowest |
24,155Highest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Marblehead and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Acton and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Marblehead 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Acton-Boxborough | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
13.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.