What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boxford has the oldest population (median age 49.1).

Southborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

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	Southborough
People
Population	8,208Lowest	10,493Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA	43.6±1.7Lowest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	23.7%±5Lowest MA: 19.4%	27%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4%
	Southborough and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9%	13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	76.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Boxford and Southborough 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 93% above MA	$196,808±$16kLowest 89% above MA
	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 61% above MA	$821,100±$51kLowest 46% above MA
	Boxford and Southborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA	$2,496±$309Highest 42% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$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%	32%±15Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Boxford and Southborough 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%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	88.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	32 minHighest 10% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	31%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Southborough and Boxford 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
School district	Boxford · Masconomet	Southborough
High school in town	Masconomet Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.