Compare towns
Boxford vs Georgetown vs Needham
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).
Georgetown has the most affordable homes ($651k median).
Needham 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.
| Measure | Boxford | Georgetown | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208Lowest |
8,474 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5 MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Boxford and Georgetown 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% |
56.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$151,595±$23kLowest 46% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Needham 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±$46k 61% above MA |
$651,200±$23kLowest 16% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
$2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Needham and Georgetown 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 |
$7,272Lowest 21% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Needham 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% |
3.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Georgetown | Needham |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Georgetown High School | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
9.3Lowest |
11.9 |
| 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.