What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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	Epping
People
Population	8,208Highest	7,430Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S.	45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Boxford and Epping 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%	18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Boxford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Epping 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 U.S.: 35.7%	37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Epping 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.	$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S.	$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S.	$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.2%±60.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Boxford 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%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 18% above U.S.	32 minHighest 22% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Epping 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	#77 of 120 in NH
School district	Boxford · Masconomet	Epping School District
High school in town	Masconomet Regional High School	Epping High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	9.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.