What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lancaster	Topsfield
People
Population	8,606Highest	6,564Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA	42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA
	Lancaster and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Topsfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Topsfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	71.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Topsfield and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA	$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA	$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA	$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,235Lowest 21% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lancaster and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%	7.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 9% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6%	29.4%±8.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lancaster 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	#145 of 282 in MA	#172 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Topsfield
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.