What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).

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	Topsfield	Pelham
People
Population	2,624Highest	1,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±10.9Lowest 6% above MA	45±8.4Highest 13% above MA
	Pelham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.6%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	21%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pelham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pelham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	64.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±3Highest MA: 7.9%	2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Topsfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$191,146±$21kHighest 84% above MA	$113,750±$24kLowest 9% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$836,600±$60kHighest 49% above MA	$447,600±$33kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$841Lowest 44% below MA	$1,205±$560Highest 32% below MA
	Pelham and Topsfield 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 67% above MA	$7,472Lowest 25% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±47.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	42.7%±35.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Pelham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Lowest MA: 10%	10.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 18% below MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Pelham 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	#172 of 282 in MA	—
School district	—	Pelham
High school 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.