What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k 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	Shirley
People
Population	6,564Lowest	6,976Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA	44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA
	Shirley and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%	16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Topsfield and Shirley 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%	19.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Topsfield and Shirley 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%	36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Shirley 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	$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA	$427,600±$36kLowest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA	$1,481±$421Highest 16% below MA
	Shirley 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	$5,156Lowest 14% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.1%±21.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Shirley and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest MA: 10%	9.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	77.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	40 minHighest 39% above MA
Work from home	29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6%	21%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Topsfield and Shirley 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	#239 of 282 in MA
School district	Topsfield	Ayer Shirley School District
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.