Compare towns
Boxford vs Plainfield vs Sutton vs Topsfield
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 oldest population (median age 49.1).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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 | Plainfield | Sutton | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,208 |
15,141Highest |
9,452 |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield 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% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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 149% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| 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 173% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| 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 45% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,115±$538 21% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Sutton 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% 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% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and Sutton 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% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Sutton 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #105 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Plainfield School District | Sutton | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Plainfield High School | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
10.3Lowest |
12.6Highest |
— |
| 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.