What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k median).

Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hamilton	Essex
People
Population	7,600Highest	3,701Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA	45±3.4Highest 13% above MA
	Essex 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%	23.9%±6.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hamilton and Essex 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%	16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hamilton and Essex 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%	69%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA	$157,147±$24kHighest 51% above MA
	Essex 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±$36kLowest 28% above MA	$897,400±$59kHighest 60% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average	$1,964±$238Highest 11% above MA
	Essex and Hamilton 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hamilton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest MA: 10%	8.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	75%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 11% above MA	25 minLowest 14% below MA
Work from home	26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	23.6%±7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hamilton and Essex 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	#93 of 282 in MA
School district	Hamilton-Wenham	Manchester Essex Regional
High school in town	Hamilton-Wenham Regional High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.