Compare towns
Haverhill vs Boxford vs Taunton
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).
Taunton has the most affordable homes ($423k 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 | Haverhill | Boxford | Taunton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 67,698Highest |
8,208Lowest |
60,433 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±1.1 about the MA average |
49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
38.9±1.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Boxford and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Boxford and Taunton 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 |
$79,283±$7kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $453,900±$9k 19% below MA |
$907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA |
$422,800±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,668±$49Highest 5% below MA |
$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,324±$86 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,772 20% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,344Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.2%±5.3 MA: 51.8% |
67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±5.9Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
13%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.8% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 6% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.5%±1.5 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #243 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA | #253 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical | Boxford · Masconomet | Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton |
| High school in town | Haverhill High | Masconomet Regional High School | Taunton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
12.2Lowest |
16.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.