What stands out worked out from the figures below

Southborough has the most kids (27% under 18).

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	Southborough	Topsfield
People
Population	10,493Highest	6,564Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±1.7Highest 9% above MA	42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA
	Southborough and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4%	24.8%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Southborough and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	71.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Topsfield and Southborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$196,808±$16kHighest 89% above MA	$195,718±$16kLowest 88% above MA
	Southborough and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$821,100±$51kLowest 46% above MA	$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA
	Topsfield and Southborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,496±$309Highest 42% above MA	$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32%±15Lowest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Topsfield and Southborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	7.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	31%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	29.4%±8.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Southborough 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	#8 of 282 in MA	#172 of 282 in MA
School district	Southborough	Topsfield
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.