Compare towns
Ashland vs Ipswich vs Maynard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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.
| Measure | Ashland | Ipswich | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873Highest |
13,930 |
10,712Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$11k 23% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% 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±$18k 9% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444Lowest 24% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Ashland 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 | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Ipswich | Maynard |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Ipswich High | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
9.0Lowest |
9.7 |
| 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.