Compare towns
Middleton vs Ogunquit vs Beverly 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Beverly | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816 |
1,379Lowest |
42,665Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29k 107% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| 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 123% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13kLowest 95% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,771±$106Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Beverly and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,785 182% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,836 119% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.7%±25.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beverly 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 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 |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #144 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | — | Beverly | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Beverly High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.

