Compare towns
Hamilton vs Shirley 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 kids (24% under 18).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Ipswich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Shirley | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
6,976Lowest |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±3.4 11% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Ipswich 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% |
19.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
| Hamilton and Ipswich 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 |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Shirley 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Ayer Shirley School District | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.