Compare towns
North Andover vs Ogunquit vs Boxford vs Melrose
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Andover has the most affordable homes ($733k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Boxford has the highest household income ($201k).
Melrose has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | North Andover | Ogunquit | Boxford | Melrose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,490Highest |
1,379Lowest |
8,208 |
29,650 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
49.1±3.6 26% above U.S. |
43.6±1.1 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $140,670±$9k 74% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S. |
$133,953±$14k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $732,900±$37kLowest 120% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
$822,900±$20k 147% above U.S. |
| Boxford and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S. |
— | $776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,970±$149 39% above U.S. |
| North Andover and Melrose are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,767 149% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,578 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±8.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Melrose 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 | #98 of 282 in MA | — | #34 of 282 in MA | #62 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Andover | — | Boxford · Masconomet | Melrose |
| High school in town | North Andover High | — | Masconomet Regional High School | Melrose High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.3Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.