Compare towns
Hamilton vs Hingham vs Rowley 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 youngest population (median age 43.5).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Rowley has the most affordable homes ($667k median).
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 | Hingham | Rowley | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600 |
24,283Highest |
6,251Lowest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
| Rowley and Hingham 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% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham 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% |
76.2%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% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Rowley 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Hingham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Hingham 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Hingham | Triton | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Hingham High | None in town | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
12.9Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.