Compare towns
Boxford vs Exeter vs Harvard
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 most kids (23.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
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 | Exeter | Harvard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208 |
16,151Highest |
6,927Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford and Harvard 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% 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. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$833,600±$54k 151% 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. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Harvard 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. |
$8,814Lowest 183% 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% |
59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #12 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Harvard |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Exeter High School | The Bromfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
12.1 |
11.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 12 photos → |
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.