Compare towns
Acushnet vs Ipswich vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acushnet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Ipswich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Leicester has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Acushnet | Ipswich | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,624Lowest |
13,930Highest |
11,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.8 15% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
42.4±3.5Lowest 6% above MA |
| Ipswich and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Acushnet and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Acushnet and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Leicester and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,503±$9kLowest 14% below MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$105,173±$9k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,400±$34k 22% below MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$413,100±$23kLowest 27% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,170±$354Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,598±$90Highest 9% below MA |
$1,487±$258 16% below MA |
| Ipswich and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,647 22% below MA |
$7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$4,452Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±14.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Ipswich and Leicester 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 | #118 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #222 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acushnet | Ipswich | Leicester |
| High school in town | None in town | Ipswich High | Leicester High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.