Northborough, MA vs Topsfield, MA

Northborough is moderately more affordable than Topsfield, with a 8.9% lower cost of living index. Northborough scores 118 compared to 130 for Topsfield, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Topsfield can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Northborough is $1,219/month compared to $866/month in Topsfield — a 41% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Topsfield has cheaper rent, Northborough actually has lower median home values ($553,700 vs $793,300).

Median household income in Northborough is $154,926 compared to $169,468 in Topsfield (-8.6%). The higher salaries in Topsfield partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Northborough spend roughly 9.4% of their income on rent, more than the 6.1% in Topsfield.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.1°F vs 49.9°F). Northborough receives more rainfall at 48.3" per year compared to 44.9" in Topsfield.