What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).

Wakefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hamilton	Wakefield
People
Population	7,600Lowest	27,793Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA	42.4±1.7Lowest 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%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4%	20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hamilton and Wakefield 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%	19%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hamilton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±0.9Lowest 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±$14kHighest 29% above MA
	Wakefield 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±$36kLowest 28% above MA	$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA
	Wakefield and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average	$1,958±$102Highest 11% above 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8%	43.7%±7.9Lowest 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 11% above MA	33 minHighest 14% above MA
Work from home	26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hamilton and Wakefield 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
School district	Hamilton-Wenham	Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield
High school in town	Hamilton-Wenham Regional High	Northeast Metro Regional Vocational
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.