What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k median).

Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k 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	Boxford	Chaplin
People
Population	8,208Highest	2,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S.	43.7±4.8Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Boxford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Boxford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Boxford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chaplin and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S.	$97,846±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S.	$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S.	$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Boxford and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979 1 yr older than U.S.	1979 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	32 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Boxford and Chaplin 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	#34 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Boxford · Masconomet	Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11
High school in town	Masconomet Regional High School	Parish Hill High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	7.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	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.