Compare towns
Groton vs Ware vs Topsfield
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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Ware | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,390Highest |
6,369Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA |
| 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% |
23.3%±4.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 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%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Ware 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 86% above MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$335Highest 17% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,115±$538 37% below MA |
| Groton 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 67% above MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.8% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 27.5%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Groton-Dunstable | — | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Groton Dunstable Regional | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.