Compare towns
Boxford vs Needham 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 homeowners (94.9%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208 |
32,459Highest |
2,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.4±10.9Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±5.3Lowest 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%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±3Lowest 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 |
$191,146±$21kLowest 84% 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 |
$836,600±$60kLowest 49% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$994±$841 44% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
42.4%±47.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 7% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Needham High | — |
| 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.