Compare towns
Topsfield vs Wenham vs Middleton
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 most kids (24.8% under 18).
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($743k median).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564 |
4,929Lowest |
9,816Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
43.1±2Highest 8% above MA |
| Middleton 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% |
18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Wenham 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% |
14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Middleton 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% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$194,781±$33k 87% above MA |
$167,402±$29kLowest 61% above MA |
| Topsfield and Wenham 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 |
$885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
$742,700±$48kLowest 32% above MA |
| Wenham 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 |
— | $1,407±$284Highest 20% below MA |
| Middleton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,785Lowest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wenham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #172 of 282 in MA | #74 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Hamilton-Wenham | Middleton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.