Compare towns
Topsfield vs Stow 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 (28 min average).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Stow | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,564Lowest |
7,165 |
8,208Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA |
| Boxford and Stow 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% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.2%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 88% above MA |
$185,809±$22kLowest 79% 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 |
$729,600±$39kLowest 30% 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 |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford and Stow 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Topsfield | Nashoba | 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 |
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.