Compare towns
Boxford vs Needham vs Middleton
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).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($743k 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 | Needham | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208Lowest |
32,459Highest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Boxford and Middleton 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$167,402±$29kLowest 61% 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 |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$742,700±$48kLowest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,407±$284 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,785Lowest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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% |
3.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Needham | Middleton |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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| 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.