What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rye has the oldest population (median age 55.1).

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	Rye	Topsfield
People
Population	5,611Lowest	6,564Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S.	42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Topsfield and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	22.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Topsfield and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,655±$39kLowest 74% above U.S.	$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S.	$853,400±$40kLowest 157% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S.	$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S.
	Rye and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,519Lowest 141% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.3%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rye and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	28 minLowest 4% above U.S.
Work from home	30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	29.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rye 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	#2 of 120 in NH	#172 of 282 in MA
School district	Rye School District	Topsfield
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.