Compare towns
Bolton vs Plainfield 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 the most people working from home (40.5%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Bolton | Plainfield | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
15,141Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7 6% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.2±1.8Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Bolton 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% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest 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% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Plainfield 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below 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. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below 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±$1kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Bolton and Plainfield 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% 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% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsfield and Plainfield 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Plainfield School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.