Compare towns
Topsfield vs Acton vs Norwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Norwell has the most kids (28.5% 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 | Topsfield | Acton | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
24,155Highest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Acton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.8% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
| Topsfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
| Norwell and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
| Norwell and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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 | 41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Acton-Boxborough | Norwell |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.