Compare towns
Hamilton vs Marblehead vs Groton
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).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Groton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Marblehead | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600Lowest |
20,413Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Groton 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 |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$192,958±$27kHighest 86% above MA |
| Groton and Marblehead 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 |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$743,400±$46k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA |
| Hamilton and Marblehead 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 |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Marblehead 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Groton 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Marblehead | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Marblehead High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
10.7Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.