Compare towns
Middleton vs Ogunquit vs Halifax 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%).
Halifax has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Ogunquit | Halifax | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,816Highest |
1,379Lowest |
7,748 |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%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. |
41.9±4.7Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Halifax 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% |
18.8%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest 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% |
5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Halifax and Ogunquit 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 107% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$118,556±$11k 47% 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. |
$481,500±$51kLowest 45% 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 |
— | $1,804±$375Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Halifax 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. |
$6,840 119% 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% |
45.6%±37.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Halifax 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% 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% |
13.9%±5.3 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 | — | #120 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | — | Halifax | 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 | 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.