Compare towns
Hamilton vs Ogunquit vs Essex vs Wenham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Essex has the most renters (25% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Essex | Wenham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600Highest |
1,379Lowest |
3,701 |
4,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45±3.4 16% above U.S. |
29.3±9.3Lowest 25% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hamilton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
27.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$157,147±$24k 95% above U.S. |
$194,781±$33kHighest 141% above U.S. |
| Wenham and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36kLowest 116% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
$885,400±$48k 166% above U.S. |
| Essex and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Lowest 27% above U.S. |
— | $1,964±$238Highest 39% above U.S. |
— |
| Essex 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamilton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #93 of 282 in MA | #74 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | — | Manchester Essex Regional | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.