Compare towns
Hamilton vs Sterling vs Topsfield
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 renters (15.3% rent).
Sterling has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Sterling | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
8,183Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27kLowest 24% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Hamilton and Sterling 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 |
$6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Sterling 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% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Wachusett | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
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| 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.