Compare towns
Wenham vs Beverly 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).
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
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 | Beverly | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,929Lowest |
42,665Highest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
39±1.8 about the MA average |
42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA |
| Topsfield and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Wenham 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% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $194,781±$33k 87% above MA |
$106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$650,300±$13kLowest 16% 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 | — | $1,771±$106Highest about the MA average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,836Lowest 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #74 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Beverly | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Beverly High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.