Compare towns
Topsfield vs Williston vs Groton
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 expensive homes ($853k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Groton has the most kids (28.3% 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 | Williston | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
10,144 |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Williston and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Williston 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% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Groton 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27k 139% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46k 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335 3% above U.S. |
| Williston and Groton 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Groton 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.7 |
| 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.