Compare towns
Hamilton vs Brewer vs Wenham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Wenham has the highest household income ($195k).
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 | Hamilton | Brewer | Wenham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
9,652Highest |
4,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8 3% above U.S. |
29.3±9.3Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Hamilton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hamilton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
27.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$194,781±$33kHighest 141% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$885,400±$48kHighest 166% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±20.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamilton and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wenham and Hamilton 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #74 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Brewer Public Schools | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
14.0Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.