Compare towns

Haverhill vs Boxford vs Leominster

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Boxford has the highest household income ($201k).
Leominster has the most affordable homes ($380k 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.

MeasureHaverhillBoxfordLeominster
People
Population
67,698Highest
8,208Lowest
43,909
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.4%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±1.1Lowest
about the MA average
49.1±3.6Highest
23% above MA
43.3±2.2
8% above MA
Boxford and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±1.5
MA: 19.4%
23.7%±5Highest
MA: 19.4%
19%±1.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Boxford and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.5%±1.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
21.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.3%±1.9
MA: 17.9%
Boxford and Leominster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
70.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
33.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Leominster and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,326±$4k
15% below MA
$200,871±$21kHighest
93% above MA
$83,816±$7kLowest
19% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$453,900±$9k
19% below MA
$907,000±$46kHighest
61% above MA
$380,400±$14kLowest
32% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,668±$49Highest
5% below MA
$776±$13Lowest
56% below MA
$1,354±$50
23% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,772Lowest
20% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$5,256
12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
60.2%±5.3
MA: 51.8%
67.2%±60.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
48.9%±5.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Boxford and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.3%Highest
MA: 10%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
9.2%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.8%
MA: 62.5%
94.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
62.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964Lowest
same as MA
1979Highest
15 yrs newer than MA
1967
3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
6% below MA
31 minHighest
7% above MA
26 minLowest
10% below MA
Work from home
12.5%±1.5
MA: 18.6%
21.6%±5.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #243 of 282 in MA #34 of 282 in MA #233 of 282 in MA
School district Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical Boxford · Masconomet Leominster
High school in town Haverhill High Masconomet Regional High School Leominster High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Highest
12.2
10.6Lowest
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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.