Compare towns
Ipswich vs Marblehead 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
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 | Marblehead | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
20,413Highest |
7,600Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Marblehead 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% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest 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 |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
| Marblehead 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±$40k 33% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
| Hamilton and Marblehead 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest 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% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Marblehead | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Marblehead High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
10.7 |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.