Compare towns
Topsfield vs Lancaster 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).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
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 | Lancaster | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
8,606 |
11,361Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Lancaster 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% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Norwell 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 |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% 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 |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,215±$336 26% above MA |
| Lancaster and Norwell 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 |
$7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Norwell 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Nashoba | Norwell |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.