What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boxford has the most people working from home (21.6%).

Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Boxford	Rowley
People
Population	8,208Highest	6,251Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±3.6Lowest 23% above MA	50±6.3Highest 25% above MA
	Rowley and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4%	19.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Boxford and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Rowley 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%	56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA	$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA	$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA	$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$8,309Lowest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±27.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Boxford and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1% MA: 10%	3.1% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	28 minLowest 3% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%	11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#34 of 282 in MA	#214 of 282 in MA
School district	Boxford · Masconomet	Triton
High school in town	Masconomet Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.