Compare towns
Topsfield vs Woonsocket 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%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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 | Woonsocket | Norwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
43,521Highest |
11,361 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8Highest 8% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% 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% |
23.3%±2Lowest 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% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Woonsocket 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% 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. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$2,215±$336Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% 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% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.1%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Norwell and Woonsocket 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #80 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Norwell |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Norwell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.