Compare towns
Topsfield vs Hooksett vs Boxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Hooksett | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
15,057Highest |
8,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| 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 157% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
| 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 21% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Hooksett 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Hooksett School District | Boxford · Masconomet |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.