Compare towns
Ipswich vs Hamilton vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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.
| Measure | Ipswich | Hamilton | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
7,600Lowest |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Ipswich and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
| Burlington and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
| Ipswich and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 33% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Burlington 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Hamilton-Wenham | Burlington |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.8Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.