What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).

Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashby	Topsfield
People
Population	3,211Lowest	6,564Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	50.5±3Highest 26% above MA	42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Topsfield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±4.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Topsfield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	71.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Topsfield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA	$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA	$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA	$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA
	Ashby and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,034Lowest about the MA average	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Topsfield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.6%Lowest MA: 10%	7.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	90.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	17.8%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Topsfield and Ashby 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	#200 of 282 in MA	#172 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Topsfield
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.