Compare towns
Ipswich vs Hingham vs Hamilton vs Rowley
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).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Hamilton has the youngest population (median age 43.5).
Rowley has the most affordable homes ($667k 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 | Ipswich | Hingham | Hamilton | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
24,283Highest |
7,600 |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Hingham 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% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham 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% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Rowley 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Hingham and Hamilton 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Hingham | Hamilton-Wenham | Triton |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Hingham High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.9Highest |
11.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.