Compare towns
Topsfield vs Ayer 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).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Ayer | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
8,645 |
11,361Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Topsfield and Ayer 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% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer 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 |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below 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 |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield and Norwell 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Ayer Shirley School District | Norwell |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.