Compare towns
Boxford vs Harvard vs Taunton
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).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Taunton has the most affordable homes ($423k median).
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 | Harvard | Taunton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208 |
6,927Lowest |
60,433Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
38.9±1.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Boxford and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford and Taunton 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% |
16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
15%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Boxford and Harvard 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 MA: 47.3% |
62% MA: 47.3% |
23.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Boxford and Taunton 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$79,283±$7kLowest 24% below MA |
| 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 61% above MA |
$833,600±$54k 48% above MA |
$422,800±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
| 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 56% below MA |
$1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,324±$86Highest 25% below MA |
| Taunton 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 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,344Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±5.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
13%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #253 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Harvard | Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | The Bromfield High School | Taunton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.0Lowest |
16.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.