What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k median).

Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).

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	Thomaston
People
Population	8,208Highest	7,492Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S.	41.5±7.7Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Boxford and Thomaston 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%	20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Boxford and Thomaston 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%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Boxford and Thomaston 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%	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Thomaston 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.	$103,218±$15kLowest 28% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S.	$282,600±$23kLowest 15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S.	$1,037±$147Highest 27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$5,915Lowest 90% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	57.9%±22Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Boxford and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#34 of 282 in MA	#106 of 149 in CT
School district	Boxford · Masconomet	Thomaston School District
High school in town	Masconomet Regional High School	Thomaston High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.