Compare towns
Hamilton vs Central Falls 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 oldest population (median age 43.5).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Central Falls | Wenham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
22,701Highest |
4,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
32.5±2.3 16% below U.S. |
29.3±9.3Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
27.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$194,781±$33kHighest 141% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$885,400±$48kHighest 166% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% 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% |
56.7%±8.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±20.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamilton and Central Falls 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% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest 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 | #38 of 38 in RI | #74 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Central Falls Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| 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.