Compare towns
Sherborn vs Hampton Beach vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sherborn has the most people working from home (49.1%).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Topsfield has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
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 | Hampton Beach | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,427 |
2,605Lowest |
6,564Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.3 10% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 82.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 210% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,026,800±$72kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76kLowest 53% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$316Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,115Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 49.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #53 of 282 in MA | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sherborn | — | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.