Compare towns
Essex vs Hadley vs Ogunquit vs Boxborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Hadley has the most affordable homes ($511k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Boxborough has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
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.
| Measure | Essex | Hadley | Ogunquit | Boxborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,701 |
5,306 |
1,379Lowest |
5,496Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±3.4 16% above U.S. |
45.8±7.1 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hadley and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $157,147±$24kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$119,259±$12k 48% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
| Essex and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
$511,000±$43kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
| Essex and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,964±$238Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,402±$132Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
| Essex and Boxborough 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. |
$5,271 69% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.6%±18.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.8%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxborough and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.1%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #93 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | — | #31 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Manchester Essex Regional | Hadley | — | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Hopkins Academy | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.