Compare towns
Sherborn vs Chilmark vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Topsfield has the most affordable homes ($853k median).
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 | Sherborn | Chilmark | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,427 |
1,578Lowest |
6,564Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.3 7% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Sherborn and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 82.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Topsfield and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$168,750±$28kLowest 62% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,026,800±$72k 83% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$853,400±$40kLowest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$316 33% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Chilmark and Sherborn 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±26.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Sherborn 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% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 49.1%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #53 of 282 in MA | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sherborn | Up-Island Regional | Topsfield |
| 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.