Compare towns
Boxford vs Stow vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxford has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Stow | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208Highest |
7,165 |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Boxford and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Boxford and Topsfield 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 |
$185,809±$22kLowest 79% above MA |
$195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
| 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 61% above MA |
$729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| 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 56% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$1,115±$538 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$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% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Topsfield 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Nashoba | Topsfield |
| 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 |
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.