Compare towns
Hamilton vs Windham vs Harvard vs Topsfield
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
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 | Harvard | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,600 |
19,188Highest |
6,927 |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.5±2.1 12% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%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% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Harvard and Topsfield 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. |
$833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,794±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332 13% below U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hamilton and Harvard 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.8%±23.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #36 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #12 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | RSU 14 | Harvard | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Windham High School | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8 |
12.1Highest |
11.0Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 6 photos → | 29 photos → | 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.