Compare towns
Topsfield vs Needham vs Hamilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the most homeowners (90.4%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hamilton has the most affordable homes ($720k median).
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 | Needham | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
32,459Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Hamilton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Topsfield 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% above MA |
| Needham and Topsfield 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$720,000±$36kLowest 28% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
| 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% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | — | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.