Compare towns
Bedford vs Sutton vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Bedford | Sutton | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727Highest |
9,452Lowest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Bedford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,400±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA |
| Bedford and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bedford and Sutton 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 | #7 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Sutton | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Sutton High School | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.