Compare towns
Rowley vs Topsfield vs Edgartown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has the most affordable homes ($667k median).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
Edgartown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.1%).
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 | Rowley | Topsfield | Edgartown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251 |
6,564Highest |
5,278Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+27.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 25% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
51.9±8.6Highest 30% above MA |
| Edgartown and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
10%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±8.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Edgartown and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$125,236±$33kLowest 20% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
$1,199,300±$262kHighest 113% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,796±$470Highest about the MA average |
| Edgartown and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,641Lowest 6% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
30%±35.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 3% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
12 minLowest 60% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.6%±15.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield and Edgartown 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #242 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Topsfield | Edgartown |
| High school in town | None 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.