Compare towns
Topsfield vs Ware vs Hamilton vs Middleton
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 highest household income ($196k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Hamilton has the oldest population (median age 43.5).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Ware | Hamilton | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
10,048Highest |
7,600 |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Hamilton and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
| Topsfield and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$538 37% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
| Hamilton and Middleton 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,785 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Ware | Hamilton-Wenham | Middleton |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.