Compare towns
Byron vs Chapman vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
Bordering ByronRoxbury
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Byron has the most affordable homes ($123k median).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
Topsfield has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
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 | Byron | Chapman | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 174Lowest |
388Highest |
214 |
| Median age | 58.9±12.3 31% above ME |
45.7±11.4Lowest about the ME average |
63.5±4.9Highest 42% above ME |
| Topsfield and Byron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 1.1%±16.8Lowest ME: 18.1% |
27.6%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
13.1%±10.4 ME: 18.1% |
| Chapman and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±13.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
27.6%±3.8 ME: 22.4% |
44.9%±12.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 11.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
22.8%Highest ME: 36.2% |
14.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±8.9Lowest ME: 5.8% |
5.2%±2.6Highest ME: 5.8% |
0.9%±5.3 ME: 5.8% |
| Chapman and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,417±$53k 21% above ME |
$93,125±$17kHighest 25% above ME |
$48,125±$16kLowest 36% below ME |
| Chapman and Byron are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $122,700±$61kLowest 59% below ME |
$185,700±$22kHighest 37% below ME |
$141,700±$32k 52% below ME |
| Chapman and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,301 57% below ME |
$1,850Highest 39% below ME |
$957Lowest 68% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 0%±100 ME: 48.4% |
— |
| Below poverty line | 14.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.1% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.8%Highest ME: 74.3% |
94.5%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
95.1% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr newer than ME |
1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1969Lowest 8 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 43 minHighest 74% above ME |
23 minLowest 6% below ME |
34 min 39% above ME |
| Work from home | 4.1%±5.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
4.8%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
5.1%±6.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Topsfield and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | East Range CSD |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.