Compare towns
Topsfield vs Dedham 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 (+8%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Boxford has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Dedham | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
25,237Highest |
8,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
| Boxford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.7%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,718±$16k 88% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% 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 | $853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% 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 | $1,115±$538 37% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | — | Boxford · Masconomet |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Masconomet Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.2 |
| 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.