What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boxborough has the most affordable homes ($707k median).

Cohasset has the most expensive homes ($1319k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Boxborough	Cohasset
People
Population	5,496Lowest	8,427Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA	43.9±4.4Highest 10% above MA
	Cohasset and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±4.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Cohasset and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.8%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Cohasset and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	80.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	76.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Boxborough and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$144,611±$35kLowest 39% above MA	$199,306±$53kHighest 92% above MA
	Cohasset and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$706,900±$72kLowest 26% above MA	$1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,887±$173Lowest 7% above MA	$2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.8%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8%	52.6%±15.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Boxborough and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Highest MA: 10%	3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 3% above MA	37 minHighest 28% above MA
Work from home	17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Cohasset and Boxborough 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	#31 of 282 in MA	#41 of 282 in MA
School district	Acton-Boxborough	Cohasset
High school in town	None in town	Cohasset High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.