Compare towns

Boxborough vs Maynard vs Cohasset

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boxborough has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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.

MeasureBoxboroughMaynardCohasset
People
Population
5,496Lowest
10,712Highest
8,427
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.2%
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.7±1.6Lowest
7% above MA
45.3±4.3Highest
13% above MA
43.9±4.4
10% above MA
Maynard and Cohasset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±4.9
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±4.3Lowest
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%
18.2%±3.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.8%±2.8
MA: 17.9%
Maynard and Cohasset 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%
64.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
76.7%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±3.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1.7
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±$35k
39% above MA
$124,067±$16kLowest
19% 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±$72k
26% above MA
$527,400±$31kLowest
6% below MA
$1,318,900±$165kHighest
135% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,887±$173
7% above MA
$1,800±$148Lowest
about the MA average
$2,755±$399Highest
56% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$8,266Lowest
38% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.8%±22.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
44.9%±9.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.6%±15.5
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%
MA: 10%
8.3%Highest
MA: 10%
3%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75%
MA: 62.5%
83%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
25 yrs newer than MA
1963Lowest
1 yr older than MA
1968
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minLowest
3% above MA
32 min
9% above MA
37 minHighest
28% above MA
Work from home
17.8%±6.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.9%±7.7
MA: 18.6%
25.7%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Cohasset and Maynard 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 #166 of 282 in MA #41 of 282 in MA
School district Acton-Boxborough Maynard Cohasset
High school in town None in town Maynard High Cohasset High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.7Highest
9.0Lowest
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.