Compare towns
Topsfield vs Hingham vs Groton
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).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% 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 | Hingham | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
24,283Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
41.4±2.7Lowest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham 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% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Groton 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 |
$178,390±$15kLowest 72% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
| Topsfield and Groton 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 |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$743,400±$46kLowest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,458±$335 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Groton 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Hingham | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Hingham High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| 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.