Compare towns
Middleton vs Lancaster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816Highest |
8,606 |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2Highest 8% above MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 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+ | 18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 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+ | 41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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±$29k 61% above MA |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Topsfield and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 20% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785 47% above MA |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 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 | 3.4% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Nashoba | 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 |
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.