Compare towns
Topsfield vs Millis 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 the shortest commute (24 min average).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Boxford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Millis | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,624Lowest |
8,888Highest |
8,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±10.9Lowest 6% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
| Boxford and Millis 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% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis 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% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis 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 |
$155,996±$9kLowest 50% 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 |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above 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 |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
| Millis 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 |
$9,344Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±47.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Millis 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boxford and Topsfield 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Millis | Boxford · Masconomet |
| High school in town | — | Millis High School | Masconomet Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
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.