Compare towns
Hamilton vs Ipswich vs Sutton vs Harvard
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 kids (24% under 18).
Ipswich has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Ipswich | Sutton | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600 |
13,930Highest |
9,452 |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
| Ipswich and Sutton 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% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Harvard 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Ipswich 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 |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
| Harvard and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
| Hamilton and Ipswich 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 |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Hamilton 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% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #36 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Ipswich | Sutton | Harvard |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Ipswich High | Sutton High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
9.0Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.