Compare towns
Boxford vs Dedham vs North Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxford has the highest household income ($201k).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
North Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Dedham | North Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208Lowest |
25,237 |
31,490Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.6±2Lowest about the MA average |
| Boxford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
11%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$140,670±$9k 35% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$732,900±$37k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,223±$223Highest 26% above MA |
| North Andover and Dedham 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 67% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$7,767Lowest 30% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
53%±9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
69.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Boxford and North Andover 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #98 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Dedham | North Andover |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Dedham High | North Andover High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
10.4Lowest |
13.3Highest |
| 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.