Compare towns
Groton vs Hollis 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
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Hollis has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Groton | Hollis | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
8,603 |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hollis and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Groton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $192,958±$27k 139% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22kLowest 109% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $743,400±$46k 123% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48kLowest 103% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Hollis and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Groton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Hollis 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 | #39 of 282 in MA | #8 of 120 in NH | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Highest |
11.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.