Compare towns
Topsfield vs Harvard vs Paxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Paxton has the most affordable homes ($472k median).
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 | Harvard | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564 |
6,927Highest |
5,002Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Harvard 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% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Harvard 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.4%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Paxton 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% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA |
| Harvard 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 |
$833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
| Topsfield and Harvard 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 |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA |
| Paxton and Harvard 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,129Lowest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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 MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #172 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Harvard | Wachusett |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.