Compare towns
Hamilton vs Webster vs Essex
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 homeowners (84.7%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($897k 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 | Webster | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
17,748Highest |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
45±3.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Essex and Hamilton 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±6.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Essex 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Webster 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$157,147±$24kHighest 51% above MA |
| Essex 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±$36k 28% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$897,400±$59kHighest 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,964±$238Highest 11% above MA |
| Essex 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 |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±7 MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Essex 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Webster | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
11.6Lowest |
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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.