Compare towns
Topsfield vs Hamilton vs Wenham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k median).
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Topsfield | Hamilton | Wenham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564 |
7,600Highest |
4,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
| Hamilton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±3Lowest 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+ | 71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
$194,781±$33k 87% above MA |
| Topsfield and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
$885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
| Wenham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
— |
| Hamilton and Topsfield 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 | 41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #172 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #74 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Hamilton-Wenham | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— |
| 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.