What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boxborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).

Essex has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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	Essex
People
Population	5,496Highest	3,701Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA	45±3.4Highest 13% above MA
	Essex 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%	23.9%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Essex 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%	16.9%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Essex 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%	69%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±3.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Boxborough and Essex 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	$157,147±$24kHighest 51% above MA
	Essex 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	$897,400±$59kHighest 60% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,887±$173Lowest 7% above MA	$1,964±$238Highest 11% above MA
	Essex and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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%	51.5%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Boxborough and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%	8.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA	1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 3% above MA	25 minLowest 14% below MA
Work from home	17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	23.6%±7Highest MA: 18.6%
	Essex 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	#93 of 282 in MA
School district	Acton-Boxborough	Manchester Essex Regional
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.