What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

Ipswich has the most kids (18.9% under 18).

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	Burlington	Ipswich
People
Population	26,274Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.2Lowest 15% above MA	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA
	Ipswich and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ipswich and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	60.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Burlington and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA	$138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA
	Burlington and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$740,600±$35kLowest 32% above MA	$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA
	Ipswich and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,165Lowest about the MA average	$7,960Highest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ipswich and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Highest MA: 10%	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Burlington 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	#83 of 282 in MA	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Burlington	Ipswich
High school in town	Burlington High	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	9.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.