Compare towns
Topsfield vs Exeter vs Middleton
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 people working from home (29.4%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Middleton has the most homeowners (92.7%).
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 | Exeter | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.1±2 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Topsfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Middleton 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 142% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29k 107% above U.S. |
| 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 157% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48k 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Middleton 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$8,785Lowest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Middleton |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.