Compare towns
Middleton vs Ogunquit vs Brunswick 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%).
Brunswick has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Ogunquit | Brunswick | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816 |
1,379Lowest |
22,336Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40±2.8Lowest 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% |
17.2%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Middleton 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% |
22.9%±2.2 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% |
53.9% 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% |
13.3%±1.1Highest 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. |
$74,952±$6kLowest 7% below 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. |
$376,300±$15kLowest 13% 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 |
— | $1,469±$99Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Brunswick 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. |
$4,756 52% 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% |
56.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brunswick 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% |
7.7%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% |
71.2%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. |
1982 2 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 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 11% below 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% |
19.8%±3.8 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 | — | #30 of 133 in ME | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | — | Brunswick Public Schools · Brunswick-Region 10 | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Brunswick High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
— |
| 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.