Compare towns
Ipswich vs Middleton 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 most renters (25.6% rent).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Hamilton has the most people working from home (26.3%).
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 | Middleton | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
9,816 |
7,600Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% 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%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
| Middleton 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±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
| Ipswich and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$8,785 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Ipswich 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Middleton | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | None in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 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.