Compare towns
Webster vs Topsfield vs Webster
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 people working from home (29.4%).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
6,564Lowest |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% 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%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6 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% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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±$6k 30% below MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Highest 30% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,198±$85 32% below MA |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999 33% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Webster and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7% MA: 10% |
7.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #271 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Topsfield | — |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.