Compare towns
Wenham vs Acton vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Acton | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,929Lowest |
24,155Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Acton and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $194,781±$33k 87% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Topsfield and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Wenham and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Wenham 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Acton-Boxborough | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| 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.