Compare towns
Boxford vs Middleton vs Topsfield
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Middleton | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208 |
9,816Highest |
2,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
42.4±10.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.5%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boxford and Middleton 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 |
$167,402±$29kLowest 61% above MA |
$191,146±$21k 84% above MA |
| Boxford and Topsfield 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 |
$742,700±$48kLowest 32% above MA |
$836,600±$60k 49% above MA |
| Boxford and Topsfield 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 |
$1,407±$284Highest 20% below MA |
$994±$841 44% below MA |
| Middleton and Topsfield 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 |
$8,785Lowest 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±47.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Topsfield 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% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
92.7% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Boxford and Topsfield 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Middleton | — |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — |
| 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.