Compare towns
Boxford vs Epping vs Harvard vs Stow
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).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Stow has the most renters (14.6% rent).
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 | Epping | Harvard | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,208Highest |
7,430 |
6,927Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% 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% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford and Stow 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest 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±$21k 149% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22k 130% above U.S. |
| Harvard 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 173% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54k 151% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Harvard 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. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Stow and Epping 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. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Epping 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Stow 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 | #12 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Epping School District | Harvard | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Epping High School | The Bromfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
9.3Lowest |
11.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.