Compare towns
Middleton vs Newfields 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
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Newfields has the most affordable homes ($646k 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 | Newfields | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816Highest |
2,023Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Middleton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Middleton 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 107% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $742,700±$48k 123% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785Lowest 182% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfields and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Newfields 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Newfields School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.