Compare towns
Ipswich vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
11,713 |
7,600Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.5±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Wells 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 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Lowest 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hamilton and Wells 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. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% 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. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above 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. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Wells High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.4 |
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.