Compare towns
Topsfield vs Ashby vs Middleton
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 most people working from home (29.4%).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Ashby | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564 |
3,211Lowest |
9,816Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Middleton 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% |
21.5%±4.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.7% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Middleton and Topsfield 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 |
$115,598±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$167,402±$29k 61% above MA |
| Topsfield and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$390,500±$30kLowest 31% below MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,200±$484 32% below MA |
$1,407±$284Highest 20% below MA |
| Middleton and Ashby 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 |
$6,034Lowest about the MA average |
$8,785 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.4%±53.5 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Topsfield and Ashby 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% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
92.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | North Middlesex | Middleton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.