Compare towns
Bolton vs Ogunquit vs Topsfield vs Upton
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 the highest household income ($205k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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.
| Measure | Bolton | Ogunquit | Topsfield | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,737 |
1,379Lowest |
6,564 |
8,189Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kLowest 73% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kHighest 12% above U.S. |
— | $1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Bolton and Topsfield 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Bolton 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Topsfield | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | — | None in town | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
— | — | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.