Compare towns
Topsfield vs Hadley vs Boxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Hadley has the most affordable homes ($511k median).
Boxford has the most homeowners (94.9%).
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 | Hadley | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,624Lowest |
5,306 |
8,208Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±10.9Lowest 6% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
| Boxford and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Topsfield 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% |
61.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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±$21k 84% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA |
| Boxford and Topsfield 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 |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$907,000±$46kHighest 61% 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 |
$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
| Hadley 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 |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±47.4 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 18% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boxford and Hadley 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hadley | Boxford · Masconomet |
| High school in town | — | Hopkins Academy | Masconomet Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.