Compare towns
Hamilton vs Kittery vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
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 | Kittery | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
10,473Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 12% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kittery 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hamilton and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hamilton and Kittery 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamilton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Kittery Public Schools | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
9.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.