Compare towns
Hamilton vs Topsfield vs Wareham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
Wareham has the most affordable homes ($425k median).
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 | Topsfield | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
6,564Lowest |
23,302Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest 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% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Wareham 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 |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
| Hamilton and Wareham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Wareham 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% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Topsfield | Wareham |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
| 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.