Compare towns
Groton vs Topsfield vs Medway
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the most kids (28.3% under 18).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Medway has the most affordable homes ($617k 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 | Topsfield | Medway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390 |
6,564Lowest |
13,436Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA |
40.7±2.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Topsfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Groton and Medway 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 86% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$173,750±$18kLowest 67% above MA |
| 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 32% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$617,300±$21kLowest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335 17% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,575±$205Highest 11% below MA |
| Medway and Groton 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 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,730Lowest 46% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
35.3%±21.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.7%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield and Groton 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #40 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | Topsfield | Medway |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | None in town | Medway High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7Lowest |
— | 13.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.