Compare towns
Hamilton vs Hanover 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%).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Ipswich has the most renters (25.6% rent).
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 | Hanover | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600Lowest |
14,845Highest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
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%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Hanover 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 |
$189,803±$23kHighest 83% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$755,400±$39kHighest 34% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Hanover and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Hanover and Hamilton 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 |
$9,342 56% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Hanover 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% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.5% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Hanover 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
10.3 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.