What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.

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

Measure	Topsfield	Paxton
People
Population	6,564Highest	5,002Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA	41.8±3.3Lowest 4% above MA
	Topsfield and Paxton 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%	17.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Topsfield and Paxton 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%	18.4%±3.4Lowest 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%	54.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	15.9%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA	$134,083±$8kLowest 29% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA	$472,300±$29kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA	$1,386±$88Highest 21% below MA
	Paxton and Topsfield 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	$7,129Lowest 19% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8%	26.2%±15.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Topsfield and Paxton 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6%	25.5%±5.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Topsfield and Paxton 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	#219 of 282 in MA
School district	Topsfield	Wachusett
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.