Compare towns
Norwell vs Exeter 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
Norwell has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Norwell | Exeter | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361 |
16,151Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwell and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $188,699±$25k 134% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| Norwell and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Norwell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Norwell 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.