Compare towns
Topsfield vs Norwell 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Norwell has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
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 | Norwell | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
11,361Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.5±2.1Highest 9% 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 | 24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest 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 | $195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% 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 | $853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$720,000±$36kLowest 28% 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 | $1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
| 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 | 41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 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 | 7.5% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Lowest 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Norwell | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | Norwell High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| 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.