Compare towns
Topsfield vs Plainfield vs Norwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Plainfield | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
15,141Highest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8Highest 8% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.2±1.4 about the U.S. 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%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.5%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Plainfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Norwell 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 142% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$188,699±$25k 134% above U.S. |
| 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 157% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$865,700±$35kHighest 160% above U.S. |
| 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 21% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Plainfield School District | Norwell |
| High school in town | None in town | Plainfield High School | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.