What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Topsfield	Norwell
People
Population	6,564Lowest	11,361Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8% MA: +7.4%	+8% MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average
	Topsfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.8%±4.7Lowest 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%	16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	71.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.9Lowest 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	$188,699±$25kLowest 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±$40kLowest 52% above 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	$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$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%	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norwell 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%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	35 minHighest 21% above MA
Work from home	29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6%	27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Topsfield and Norwell 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	#80 of 282 in MA
School district	Topsfield	Norwell
High school in town	None in town	Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.