Compare towns
Topsfield vs Quinebaug 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Quinebaug has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k 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 | Quinebaug | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564 |
1,193Lowest |
8,208Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
56.5±1Highest 45% above U.S. |
49.1±3.6 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
0%±3.3Lowest 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%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±9.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Quinebaug and Topsfield 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% |
10.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boxford and Topsfield 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 142% above U.S. |
$105,181±$36kLowest 30% 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. |
$237,800±$66kLowest 29% below 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±$538Highest 21% below U.S. |
— | $776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Topsfield and Boxford 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. |
$3,703Lowest 19% 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
1.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±17.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield and Quinebaug 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 |
| 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 |
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.