Compare towns
Boxborough vs Exeter vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has the most expensive homes ($707k median).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Boxborough | Exeter | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,496 |
16,151Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Boxborough and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
| Boxborough and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Boxborough and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.