Compare towns
Hamilton vs Needham vs Wenham
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%).
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
32,459Highest |
4,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
| Hamilton and Needham 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% |
18.9%±3.3Lowest 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% |
14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$194,781±$33k 87% above MA |
| Needham and Wenham 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 |
$885,400±$48k 58% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above 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 |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Wenham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #74 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Needham | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| 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.