Compare towns
Hamilton vs Upton vs Douglas 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 people working from home (26.3%).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Ipswich has the most renters (25.6% rent).
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 | Upton | Douglas | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600Lowest |
8,189 |
9,207 |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Douglas | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Blackstone Valley | Douglas High School | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.2 |
7.2Lowest |
9.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.