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School district comparison · MCAS 2026 · other data 2024-25

Hamilton-Wenham vs Manchester Essex Regional Schools

How the two districts, about 5 miles apart, compare on test scores, high school results, classrooms, spending and housing.

Hamilton-Wenham
#47 of 328 districts
A-
Serves Hamilton and Wenham
1 high school · 3 elementary schools
Full district profile →
vs
Manchester Essex Regional
#40 of 328 districts
A-
Serves Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea
1 high school · 2 elementary schools
Full district profile →

The short answer

  • Overall: Neck and neck: Hamilton-Wenham ranks #47 and Manchester Essex Regional #40 of 328 Massachusetts districts.
  • MCAS 2026: Hamilton-Wenham students score higher: ELA 64% vs 61%, Math 67% vs 57% met expectations. Statewide: 41% and 41%.
  • SAT: Close: Hamilton-Wenham averages 1221 and Manchester Essex Regional 1210.
  • Spending: Manchester Essex Regional spends $2,855 more per student ($27,395 vs $24,540).
  • Homes: Homes cost more in Manchester Essex Regional: single-family homes average $1.40M vs $941K. The average tax bill is $14,629 in Hamilton-Wenham and $14,164 in Manchester Essex Regional.

MCAS results, 2026

Share of students meeting or exceeding expectations, all tested grades combined. Both districts test grades 3–10; "State" is the statewide figure for the same grades.

English Language ArtsHamilton-Wenham ahead
Hamilton-Wenham
64%
Manchester Essex Regional
61%
State
41%
MathHamilton-Wenham ahead
Hamilton-Wenham
67%
Manchester Essex Regional
57%
State
41%
ELA by year
YearHamilton-WenhamManchester Essex RegionalState
202664%61%41%
202565%65%43%
202464%56%42%
202366%63%44%
202265%64%44%
202175%66%49%
Math by year
YearHamilton-WenhamManchester Essex RegionalState
202667%57%41%
202563%61%41%
202459%60%42%
202359%58%42%
202260%62%41%
202156%55%36%

No test in 2020. Statewide 10th-grade results dropped after 2024, when passing the MCAS stopped being a graduation requirement.

High school results

Average SATAbout the same
Hamilton-Wenham
1221
Manchester Essex Regional
1210
MA avg
1113
AP exams scored 3+Manchester Essex Regional ahead
Hamilton-Wenham
77.5%
Manchester Essex Regional
84.6%
MA avg
69.1%
Four-year graduation rateManchester Essex Regional ahead
Hamilton-Wenham
97.5%
Manchester Essex Regional
98.9%
MA avg
92.4%

Averages of each district's ranked high schools. "MA avg" is the average of all districts with high school data.

Classrooms, teachers & spending

Average class sizeHigher in Hamilton-Wenham
Hamilton-Wenham
15.9
Manchester Essex Regional
15.2
MA avg
17.3
Attendance rateAbout the same
Hamilton-Wenham
95.8%
Manchester Essex Regional
95.1%
MA avg
93.7%
Chronically absentmissed 10%+ of daysLower in Hamilton-Wenham
Hamilton-Wenham
5.3%
Manchester Essex Regional
8.5%
MA avg
16.9%
Teachers who stayedfrom last yearManchester Essex Regional ahead
Hamilton-Wenham
85.8%
Manchester Essex Regional
89.1%
MA avg
84.7%
Spending per studentHigher in Manchester Essex Regional
Hamilton-Wenham
$24,540
Manchester Essex Regional
$27,395
MA median
$21,765
Average teacher salaryHigher in Manchester Essex Regional
Hamilton-Wenham
$93,642
Manchester Essex Regional
$98,900
MA median
$91,393

Spending is total per-pupil expenditure from all sources in FY2024. Class size is the average across all classes in the district.

Students

Hamilton-WenhamManchester Essex Regional
Students in classes1,6781,197
English learners0.8%0.6%
Students with disabilities17.4%19.6%
White86.3%93.4%
Asian3.3%0.9%
Hispanic/Latino6.3%3.1%
Black/African American0.8%0.3%
Multi-race3.2%2.3%

Homes & taxes

Average single-family home valueHigher in Manchester Essex Regional
Hamilton-Wenham
$941K
Manchester Essex Regional
$1.40M
MA median
$588K
Average property tax billHigher in Hamilton-Wenham
Hamilton-Wenham
$14,629
Manchester Essex Regional
$14,164
MA median
$6,814
Hamilton
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$871KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$13,093MA median $6,814
Tax rate$15.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$98,753MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves8.7% of budget
Wenham
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$1.01MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$16,164MA median $6,814
Tax rate$16.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$115,093MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAAA
Free cash reserves6.6% of budget
Essex
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$917KMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$11,957MA median $6,814
Tax rate$13.00 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$81,004MA median $47,872
Town bond ratingAA+
Free cash reserves11.7% of budget
Manchester-by-the-Sea
Essex County · North Shore & Merrimack Valley
Avg single-family home value$1.88MMA median $588K
Avg property tax bill$16,371MA median $6,814
Tax rate$8.70 per $1,000MA median $12.40
Income per person$212,683MA median $47,872

What could you afford in either town?

FY2026 averages for single-family homes from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue; for a district with several towns, the comparison uses the average of its towns. Assessed values usually run below recent sale prices.

The schools

Hamilton-Wenham
High schools · rank of 335
Hamilton-Wenham Regional HighSAT 1221#44 A-
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Bessie Buker Elementary#58 ACutler School#243 BWinthrop School#244 B
Manchester Essex Regional
High schools · rank of 335
Manchester Essex Regional High SchoolSAT 1210#45 A-
Elementary schools · rank of 895
Manchester Memorial Elementary#106 A-Essex Elementary#245 B