Compare towns
Boxford vs Dudley vs Topsfield
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 oldest population (median age 49.1).
Dudley has the most affordable homes ($393k median).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Dudley | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208 |
11,929Highest |
2,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±10.9 6% above MA |
| Boxford and Topsfield 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% |
20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford and Dudley 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% |
16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA |
$84,604±$12kLowest 19% below MA |
$191,146±$21k 84% above MA |
| 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 61% above MA |
$392,600±$19kLowest 30% below MA |
$836,600±$60k 49% above MA |
| 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 56% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$994±$841 44% below MA |
| Dudley 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 67% above MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±47.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Dudley 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% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Boxford and Topsfield 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Dudley-Charlton Reg | — |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| 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.