Compare towns
Ipswich vs Hamilton vs Topsfield
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 most renters (25.6% rent).
Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k median).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
7,600 |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Ipswich and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Ipswich 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 |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Hamilton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 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%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield and Hamilton 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 | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Hamilton-Wenham | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.8Highest |
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| 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.