Compare towns
Ipswich vs Thompson vs Hamilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ipswich has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
9,337 |
7,600Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.5±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$16kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
| 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 124% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
| 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 13% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,794±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Hamilton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 155% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamilton and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Thompson School District | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
7.9Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.