Compare towns
Pelham vs Topsfield vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($837k median).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Pelham | Topsfield | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335 |
2,624Highest |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4 13% above MA |
42.4±10.9Lowest 6% above MA |
47.1±8.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Wendell and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Pelham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8% MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
$191,146±$21kHighest 84% above MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$836,600±$60kHighest 49% above MA |
$290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560 32% below MA |
$994±$841Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,239±$519Highest 30% below MA |
| Wendell and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472 25% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,519Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±47.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
24 min 18% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pelham | — | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.