Compare towns
Boxford vs Ogunquit vs Southborough vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Southborough has the most kids (27% under 18).
Stow has the most affordable homes ($730k 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 | Ogunquit | Southborough | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,208 |
1,379Lowest |
10,493Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.6±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Southborough 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxford and Ogunquit 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 149% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$196,808±$16k 144% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22k 130% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Southborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$821,100±$51k 147% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39kLowest 119% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
— | $2,496±$309Highest 77% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±15 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
31%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Stow 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 | — | #8 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | — | Southborough | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.