Compare towns
Topsfield vs Shirley 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
Hamilton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
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 | Shirley | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
6,976 |
7,600Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
| Shirley and Hamilton 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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5 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% |
19.8%±5.1Lowest 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Shirley 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 |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
| Hamilton and Shirley 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 67% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Ayer Shirley School District | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None 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.