What stands out worked out from the figures below

West Newbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	West Newbury	Boxford
People
Population	4,591Lowest	8,208Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.5±3Highest 24% above MA	49.1±3.6Lowest 23% above MA
	West Newbury and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Boxford and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.3%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%	21.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	West Newbury and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	64.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	70.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Boxford and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$179,500±$27kLowest 73% above MA	$200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA
	Boxford and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$808,200±$47kLowest 44% above MA	$907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,675±$674Highest 5% below MA	$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,240Lowest 54% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	80.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8%	67.2%±60.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	West Newbury and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.6%Lowest MA: 10%	3.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	94.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA	1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	31 minLowest 7% above MA
Work from home	24.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	West Newbury 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	#86 of 282 in MA	#34 of 282 in MA
School district	Pentucket	Boxford · Masconomet
High school in town	Pentucket Regional Sr High	Masconomet Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.