Compare towns
Sherborn vs Wolcott 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%).
Wolcott has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Wolcott | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,427Lowest |
16,279Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±2.3 10% above U.S. |
44.4±2.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Wolcott and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 29.2%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.1Lowest 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% |
18.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Wolcott 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wolcott and Topsfield 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. |
$110,850±$10kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,026,800±$72kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$326,200±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$316Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,464±$913 4% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Sherborn and Wolcott 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,799Lowest 86% 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% |
49.8%±24.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wolcott and Sherborn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 49.1%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±3.1Lowest 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 | #76 of 149 in CT | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Sherborn | Wolcott School District | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Wolcott High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.