Compare towns
Topsfield vs Boxford vs Dunstable
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Boxford has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Dunstable has the most affordable homes ($674k 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 | Topsfield | Boxford | Dunstable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,624Lowest |
8,208Highest |
3,408 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±10.9 6% above MA |
49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
41.5±2.4Lowest 4% above MA |
| Boxford and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.8% MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dunstable and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $191,146±$21kLowest 84% above MA |
$200,871±$21k 93% above MA |
$208,512±$23kHighest 101% above MA |
| Dunstable and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $836,600±$60k 49% above MA |
$907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA |
$674,000±$30kLowest 20% above MA |
| Boxford and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $994±$841 44% below MA |
$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
$1,325±$637Highest 25% below MA |
| Dunstable and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,020Lowest 51% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±47.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±77.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
0.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9% MA: 62.5% |
96.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1979 15 yrs newer than MA |
1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Boxford and Dunstable 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA | #4 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Boxford · Masconomet | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | — | Masconomet Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.