Compare towns
Ipswich vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k 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 | Needham | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
32,459Highest |
7,600Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 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%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Hamilton 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Lowest 33% 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%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | — | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | — | 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.