Compare towns
Ipswich vs Hingham 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).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k median).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
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 | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
24,283Highest |
7,600 |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Hingham and Ipswich 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%±3.5 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Topsfield 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% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
71.8% 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% |
3.8%±1.9 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 |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Topsfield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 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 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Hingham | Hamilton-Wenham | Topsfield |
| 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.