Compare towns
Sullivan vs Topsfield vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Sullivan | Topsfield | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
6,564Highest |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1 15% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Surry and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25k 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,384 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsfield and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Surry 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Topsfield | — |
| High school 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.