Boxford vs Topsfield
Boxford and Topsfield share the Masconomet district from grade 7 up, but each runs its own elementary schools — which is why their MCAS figures differ despite the shared name. The early years are the part that is genuinely different.
Topsfield is about 5 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
Choose Boxford if you prefer the town itself — the numbers do not separate them.
All Boxford numbers →Choose Topsfield if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most.
All Topsfield numbers →Side by side
The better of the two is highlighted on each row. Where a row is not highlighted, the two are close enough that calling a winner would be false precision.
| Boxford | Topsfield | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | strong schoolsT2 |
| MCAS percentile | 76th | 77th |
| Niche district rank | 43rd of 236 | 43rd of 236 |
| 4BR house | $1.1MT3 | $1MT3 |
| 2BR condo | $590k | $555k |
| Commute to Boston | 57 minT3 | 52 minT3 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Tax rate | $14.50T3 | $15.00T4 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$16,000 | ≈$15,000 |
| 3BR rent | $3,250/mo | $3,080/mo |
Prices are estimates calibrated to the Zillow Home Value Index and Redfin; tax rates are FY2026 residential rates and the bill applies that rate to the town’s own median 4BR estimate; commutes take the rail leg from the MBTA timetable and still model the drive; rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rents. School tiers are editorial and shown next to the state’s own MCAS figures. Data last reviewed — see the methodology. This comparison never uses demographics as an input.
