Compare towns
Topsfield vs Gardner vs Topsfield
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%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (24 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 | Gardner | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564 |
21,148Highest |
2,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
42.4±10.9 6% above MA |
| Gardner and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$191,146±$21k 84% above MA |
| Topsfield and Topsfield 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$836,600±$60k 49% above MA |
| Topsfield and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$538Highest 37% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$994±$841Lowest 44% below MA |
| Topsfield and Gardner 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±47.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Gardner and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Gardner | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.