Compare towns
Ashburnham vs Topsfield vs Berkley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
Berkley has the oldest population (median age 43.4).
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 | Ashburnham | Topsfield | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,415Lowest |
6,564 |
6,829Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±6.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Berkley and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Ashburnham and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,809±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$144,205±$49k 39% above MA |
| Topsfield and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,700±$34kLowest 30% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$511,200±$45k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
— |
| Ashburnham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,046 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,018Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 10% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield and Ashburnham 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 | #178 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashburnham-Westminster | Topsfield | Berkley |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.