Compare towns
Norwell vs Hamilton vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwell has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k median).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 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 | Norwell | Hamilton | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361Highest |
7,600 |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Hamilton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6% MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Topsfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Norwell and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Norwell and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield and Norwell 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Hamilton-Wenham | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
11.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.