Compare towns
Middlesex vs Topsfield vs Moretown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Moretown has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Topsfield | Moretown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
6,564Highest |
1,532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
46.8±3.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Moretown and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$104,423±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$380,800±$36k 14% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
$838±$462Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,506Lowest 77% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.1%±14.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsfield and Moretown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Middlesex 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Topsfield | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 |
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.