Compare towns
Boxford vs Upton vs Putnam
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 expensive homes ($907k median).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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.
| Measure | Boxford | Upton | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,208 |
8,189Lowest |
9,292Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boxford and Upton 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxford and Putnam 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. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Boxford and Upton 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. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$948±$599 33% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Upton 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. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and Upton 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Boxford · Masconomet | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Masconomet Regional High School | Blackstone Valley | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.2 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.

