Compare towns
Hamilton vs Ayer vs Ipswich
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 people working from home (26.3%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Ipswich has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Ayer | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600Lowest |
8,645 |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$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 | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below 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 | $1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
| Hamilton and Ipswich 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 |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Ayer Shirley School District | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.5 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 12 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.