Compare towns
Topsfield vs Princeton vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Princeton | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,624Lowest |
3,529 |
5,306Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±10.9Lowest 6% above MA |
46.1±7Highest 15% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Princeton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Princeton 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±3.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% |
59.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±3 MA: 7.9% |
1.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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 84% above MA |
$158,750±$46k 53% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Topsfield and Princeton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $836,600±$60kHighest 49% above MA |
$520,500±$48k 7% below MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$841 44% below MA |
$897±$852Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
| Hadley 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 |
$6,633 11% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±47.4 MA: 51.8% |
69.8%±46.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Princeton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
94.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
37 minHighest 25% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.5%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Princeton and Hadley 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 | #59 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Wachusett | Hadley |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.3 |
| 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.