Compare towns
Hamilton vs Dover vs Topsfield
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).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 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 | Dover | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600Highest |
2,308Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Dover and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Hamilton 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% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Hamilton 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
— | $1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Hamilton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Hamilton 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% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Topsfield 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | — | Topsfield |
| 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.