Compare towns
Maynard vs Hamilton vs Marblehead vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
Ipswich has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Maynard | Hamilton | Marblehead | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
7,600Lowest |
20,413Highest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
| Marblehead and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 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 | $124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Marblehead and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Maynard and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 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 | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Hamilton 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Hamilton-Wenham | Marblehead | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Marblehead High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.8Highest |
10.7 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.