Compare towns
Boxford vs Dunstable 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).
Dunstable has the most affordable homes ($674k median).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Dunstable | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208Highest |
3,408Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest 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% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable 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±$21k 93% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
$195,718±$16kLowest 88% above MA |
| Dunstable and Boxford 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 |
$674,000±$30kLowest 20% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% 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 |
$1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
$1,115±$538 37% below MA |
| Dunstable 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 |
$9,020Lowest 51% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Groton-Dunstable | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.