Compare towns
Hamilton vs Needham vs Harvard vs Ipswich
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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Ipswich has the most renters (25.6% rent).
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 | Needham | Harvard | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600 |
32,459Highest |
6,927Lowest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich and Harvard 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hamilton 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$213,996±$24k 106% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Needham and Harvard 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #36 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Needham | Harvard | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Needham High | The Bromfield High School | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
11.9Highest |
11.0 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.