Compare towns
Haverhill vs Plaistow vs Boxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k median).
Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k 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 | Plaistow | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 67,698Highest |
7,861Lowest |
8,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±1.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±1.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boxford and Plaistow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxford and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $453,900±$9k 36% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,668±$49Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Haverhill and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,772Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.2%±5.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boxford and Plaistow 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 | #243 of 282 in MA | #66 of 120 in NH | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical | Timberlane Regional School District | Boxford · Masconomet |
| High school in town | Haverhill High | Timberlane Regional High School | Masconomet Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.