What stands out worked out from the figures below

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.

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

Measure	Plaistow	Boxford
People
Population	7,861Lowest	8,208Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S.	49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Boxford and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Lowest 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+	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Boxford and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S.	$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S.	$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S.	$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Lowest 131% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Boxford and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±4Lowest 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	#66 of 120 in NH	#34 of 282 in MA
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Boxford · Masconomet
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Masconomet Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.