Compare towns
Middleton vs Westbrook 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 the most homeowners (92.7%).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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 | Westbrook | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,816 |
20,775Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±2Highest 11% above U.S. |
37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Topsfield 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% |
18.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Westbrook 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% |
18.1%±2.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3%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% |
9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $167,402±$29k 107% above U.S. |
$85,038±$7kLowest 5% 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. |
$383,300±$19kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,407±$284Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$74 about the U.S. average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Middleton and Westbrook 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. |
$4,005Lowest 28% 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% |
46.1%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westbrook and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #71 of 282 in MA | #115 of 133 in ME | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Middleton | Westbrook Public Schools | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Westbrook High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.