What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k 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.

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

Measure	Ashland	Ipswich
People
Population	18,873Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ipswich and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ipswich and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ashland and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA	$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA
	Ipswich and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA	$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,444Lowest 24% above MA	$7,960Highest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%	5.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ashland and Ipswich 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	#42 of 282 in MA	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashland	Ipswich
High school in town	Ashland High	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	9.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.