Compare towns
Exeter vs Boxford vs Hopkinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Boxford has the highest household income ($201k).
Hopkinton has the most affordable homes ($404k 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 | Exeter | Boxford | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,195Lowest |
8,208 |
8,420Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±5.9Lowest 3% below U.S. |
49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
46.1±3.9 19% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boxford and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$30k 38% above U.S. |
$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S. |
$97,172±$12kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $509,200±$43k 53% above U.S. |
$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
$404,300±$29kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,317±$307Highest 7% below U.S. |
$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,040±$441 26% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,881 89% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,616Lowest 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 91%±26.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.2%±60.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.3%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.2%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boxford and Exeter 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 | #14 of 38 in RI | #34 of 282 in MA | #11 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Exeter-West Greenwich | Boxford · Masconomet | Chariho |
| High school in town | None in town | Masconomet Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.