Compare towns
Boxford vs Chaplin vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxford has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Chaplin has the most affordable homes ($255k median).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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 | Boxford | Chaplin | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208Highest |
2,070Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.7±4.8 12% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% 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%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
$255,200±$24kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
| Chaplin and Topsfield 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. |
$4,524Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and Topsfield 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Boxford 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Parish Hill High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
7.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.