Compare towns
Topsfield vs Suffield 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).
Suffield has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Hamilton has the most renters (15.3% rent).
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 | Suffield | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
15,702Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.5±2.1 12% above U.S. |
| Suffield 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2Lowest 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hamilton and Suffield 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. |
$119,472±$13kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,424±$141 about the U.S. average |
$1,794±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Hamilton and Suffield 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. |
$6,456Lowest 107% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamilton and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Suffield School District | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | Suffield High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.