Compare towns
Boxford vs Haverhill vs Methuen
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 most expensive homes ($907k median).
Haverhill has the most renters (37.2% 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 | Haverhill | Methuen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208Lowest |
67,698Highest |
53,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
39.4±1.1Lowest about the MA average |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford and Haverhill 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% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Boxford and Methuen 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% |
32.6% MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen 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 93% above MA |
$88,326±$4kLowest 15% below MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA |
$453,900±$9kLowest 19% below MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,668±$49 5% below MA |
$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
| Methuen and Haverhill 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 |
$4,772Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,061 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.2%±5.3 MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Haverhill 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% |
11.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±1.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 282 in MA | #243 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical | Methuen |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Haverhill High | Methuen High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
12.5 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.