Compare towns
Bolton vs Epping vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Bolton | Epping | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
7,430Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Epping and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49k 139% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Epping and Bolton 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Topsfield 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 | #28 of 282 in MA | #77 of 120 in NH | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Epping School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.