Compare towns
Ipswich vs Rowley vs Salem 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 highest household income ($139k).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Rowley | Salem | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
6,251Lowest |
44,795Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
| Rowley and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
| Ipswich and Rowley 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 |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
| Ipswich and Hamilton 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 |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
| Salem 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Salem 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Triton | Salem | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | None in town | Salem High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 9.8 |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.