Compare towns
Ipswich vs Reading vs Scituate 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).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
Scituate has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Reading | Scituate | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
25,612Highest |
19,365 |
7,600Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
47.1±3.1 18% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Ipswich and Scituate 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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
66.8% MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$136,732±$16k 32% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
| Reading 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 |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
| Scituate and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,609±$311 9% below MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$8,807 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% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Scituate 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Reading | Scituate | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Reading Memorial High | Scituate High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.3 |
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.