Compare towns
Boxford vs Salem vs Middleton
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 kids (23.7% under 18).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Salem | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208Lowest |
30,964Highest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boxford and Salem 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxford and Salem 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. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29k 107% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Middleton 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. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48k 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,407±$284 about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Middleton 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. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$8,785 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and Salem 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% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boxford and Salem 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Salem School District | Middleton |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.