Compare towns
Webster vs Topsfield vs Clinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Webster | Topsfield | Clinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
6,564Lowest |
15,563 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA |
38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA |
| Topsfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.9%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Clinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$89,781±$10k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$387,300±$19k 31% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,402±$76Highest 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,654 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.2%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #246 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Topsfield | Clinton |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | Clinton Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.