Compare towns
Hamilton vs Windham vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hamilton has the most people working from home (26.3%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
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 | Windham | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,600 |
19,188Highest |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 12% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45±3.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hamilton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$157,147±$24kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| 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 116% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394 27% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,964±$238Highest 39% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | RSU 14 | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.