What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boxford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

West Newbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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	West Newbury
People
Population	8,208Highest	4,591Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±3.6Lowest 23% above MA	49.5±3Highest 24% above MA
	West Newbury and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Boxford and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.3%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	West Newbury 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%Highest MA: 47.3%	64.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Boxford and West Newbury 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	$179,500±$27kLowest 73% above MA
	Boxford and West Newbury 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	$808,200±$47kLowest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA	$1,675±$674Highest 5% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$9,240Lowest 54% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.2%±60.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	80.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8%
	West Newbury and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Highest MA: 10%	1.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	95.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 7% above MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	West Newbury 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	#86 of 282 in MA
School district	Boxford · Masconomet	Pentucket
High school in town	Masconomet Regional High School	Pentucket Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.6Lowest
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.