Compare towns
Middleton vs Hingham vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($743k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
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 | Middleton | Hingham | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816 |
24,283Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 8% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Middleton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29kLowest 61% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Topsfield and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48kLowest 32% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Lowest 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Hingham | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9 |
— |
| 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.