What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).

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

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	Townsend	Topsfield
People
Population	9,100Highest	6,564Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average	42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA
	Topsfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Topsfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Topsfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	71.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA	$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA	$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA	$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA
	Townsend and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Lowest about the MA average	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Highest MA: 51.8%	41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Townsend and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Highest MA: 10%	7.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Lowest MA: 62.5%	90.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#136 of 282 in MA	#172 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Topsfield
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1	—
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.