Compare towns
Topsfield vs Plainfield vs Windsor Locks vs Hamilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 37).
Windsor Locks has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Hamilton has the oldest population (median age 43.5).
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 | Plainfield | Windsor Locks | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
15,141Highest |
12,579 |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
43.5±2.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hamilton and Windsor Locks 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 142% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,794±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Hamilton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamilton and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #131 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Plainfield School District | Windsor Locks School District | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Windsor Locks High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
8.9Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.