What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamilton has the shortest commute (32 min average).

Norfolk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hamilton	Norfolk
People
Population	7,600Lowest	11,673Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA	41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA
	Hamilton and Norfolk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Norfolk 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%	13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA	$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA	$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA
	Norfolk and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average	$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA
	Norfolk and Hamilton 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	$9,651Lowest 61% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8%	57.1%±16Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hamilton and Norfolk 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%	2.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 11% above MA	36 minHighest 24% above MA
Work from home	26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Norfolk 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	#123 of 282 in MA
School district	Hamilton-Wenham	King Philip · Millis
High school in town	Hamilton-Wenham Regional High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.