Compare towns
Hamilton vs Needham vs Topsfield 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 affordable homes ($720k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Topsfield has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
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 | Needham | Topsfield | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600 |
32,459Highest |
6,564Lowest |
6,927 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
| Harvard 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Topsfield 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
62%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%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
$213,996±$24k 106% 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 |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
$833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #36 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Needham | Topsfield | Harvard |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Needham High | None in town | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
11.9Highest |
— | 11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet | 29 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.