Compare towns
Hamilton vs Springfield vs Ipswich
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 people working from home (26.3%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Springfield | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
1,122Lowest |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hamilton and Ipswich 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 61% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$138,750±$16kHighest 72% above U.S. |
| 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 116% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$745,400±$40kHighest 124% above U.S. |
| 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 27% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,598±$90 13% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$7,960 155% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamilton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hamilton and Ipswich 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 | — | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | — | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | — | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.