Compare towns
Stow vs Topsfield vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
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 | Stow | Topsfield | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Highest |
2,624Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
42.4±10.9 6% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Stow and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22kLowest 79% above MA |
$191,146±$21k 84% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Topsfield and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
$836,600±$60k 49% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Topsfield and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$994±$841Lowest 44% below MA |
$1,115±$538 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±47.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.