Compare towns
Hamilton vs Wakefield 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 oldest population (median age 43.5).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
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 | Wakefield | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
27,793Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
42.4±1.7 6% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Hamilton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest 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%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Hamilton 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% |
59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Wakefield 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 |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,958±$102Highest 11% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Wakefield and Hamilton 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 |
$7,779Lowest 30% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Wakefield 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% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | — | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
— | — |
| 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.