Compare towns
Ipswich vs Spencer 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%).
Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k median).
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 | Spencer | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
12,008 |
7,600Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Spencer 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest 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%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer 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% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Spencer 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 |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
| Ipswich and Hamilton 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 |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% 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±$90 9% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% 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 | $7,960 33% above MA |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Spencer-E Brookfield | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | David Prouty High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.9 |
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.