Compare towns
Hamilton vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has the most kids (26.1% under 18).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
14,845Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
41.8±1.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Hamilton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Hanover and Topsfield 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% |
16.1%±2.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest 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±$23k 83% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Topsfield and Hanover 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 |
$755,400±$39k 34% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,845±$341Highest 5% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% 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 |
$9,342Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
65%±23.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #69 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | South Shore Vocational Technical High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
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| 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.