Compare towns
Halifax vs Ogunquit vs Plympton 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
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
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 | Halifax | Ogunquit | Plympton | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,748Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,935 |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
46.4±4.2 19% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11k 47% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$126,736±$20k 57% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 45% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$517,800±$52k 56% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
— | $555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
| Halifax and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840 119% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,628 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plympton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | — | #110 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | — | Plympton | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.