Compare towns
Norwell vs Reading vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwell has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
Reading has the most renters (17.6% rent).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Reading | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361 |
25,612Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Reading 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Norwell and Topsfield 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 82% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| 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 54% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| 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 26% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Norwell and Reading 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 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Reading | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Reading Memorial High | 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 | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.