What stands out worked out from the figures below

Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k median).

Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Paxton	Topsfield
People
Population	5,002Lowest	6,564Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA	42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA
	Topsfield and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Topsfield and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.4%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Topsfield and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	71.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA	$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA	$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA	$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA
	Paxton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,129Lowest 19% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Topsfield and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest MA: 10%	7.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	90.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	25.5%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	Topsfield and Paxton 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	#219 of 282 in MA	#172 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Topsfield
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.