What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Boxford has the highest household income ($201k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Reading	Boxford
People
Population	15,765Highest	8,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA	49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA
	Boxford and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Boxford and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.2%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Boxford and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	70.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Boxford and North Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA	$200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA	$907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA	$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,693Lowest 62% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8%	67.2%±60.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	North Reading and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	3.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 11 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	North Reading and Boxford 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	#33 of 282 in MA	#34 of 282 in MA
School district	North Reading	Boxford · Masconomet
High school in town	North Reading High	Masconomet Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.