Compare towns
Wenham vs Beverly vs Hamilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wenham has the highest household income ($195k).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Beverly | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,929Lowest |
42,665Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
39±1.8 about the MA average |
43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
$650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
| Hamilton and Beverly 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 |
$6,836Lowest 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Wenham 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Beverly | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | Beverly High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| 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.