Compare towns
Ipswich vs Hingham vs Wrentham vs Hamilton
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
Hamilton has the youngest population (median age 43.5).
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 | Wrentham | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
24,283Highest |
12,297 |
7,600Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
46.8±3.2 17% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% 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% |
19.8%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest 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% |
21.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 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% |
55.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Wrentham 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 |
$151,676±$17k 46% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
| Hingham and Wrentham 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 |
$654,900±$26kLowest 17% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,184±$628Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
| Hingham and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 33% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,373Lowest 23% 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% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest 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% |
6.9% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 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 | #49 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Hingham | King Philip · Wrentham | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Hingham High | King Philip Regional High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.9 |
13.5Highest |
11.8 |
| 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.