Compare towns
Topsfield vs Plainfield vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($837k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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.
| Measure | Topsfield | Plainfield | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,624 |
15,141Highest |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±10.9 9% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45±8.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Topsfield 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 137% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $836,600±$60kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$447,600±$33k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$841Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,205±$560Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Pelham and Plainfield 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. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,472 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±47.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | — |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | Pelham |
| High school in town | — | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| 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.