Compare towns
Hadley vs Ogunquit vs Topsfield vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hadley has the most affordable homes ($511k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($897k 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 | Hadley | Ogunquit | Topsfield | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,306 |
1,379Lowest |
6,564Highest |
3,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45±3.4 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$157,147±$24k 95% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
$897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
| Essex and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,964±$238Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271 69% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | — | #172 of 282 in MA | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | — | Topsfield | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.