Compare towns
Hamilton vs Marshfield vs Topsfield
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Marshfield has the oldest population (median age 45.9).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Marshfield | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
25,879Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Marshfield 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest 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% |
20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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% |
52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Marshfield 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 25% above MA |
$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,772±$123 about the MA average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Hamilton and Marshfield 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 |
$6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #54 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Marshfield | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Marshfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.