Compare towns
Hamilton vs Hingham vs Topsfield vs Stow
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).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Topsfield | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600 |
24,283Highest |
6,564Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Hingham and Stow 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% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Topsfield 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% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Topsfield 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±$15k 72% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
| Topsfield and Stow 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 |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| 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+ at least 67% above MA |
$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%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Hingham 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Hingham | Topsfield | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Hingham High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
12.9Highest |
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| 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.