What stands out worked out from the figures below

Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).

Ipswich has the highest household income ($139k).

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	Eastham	Ipswich
People
Population	5,811Lowest	13,930Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA	47.2±3.5Lowest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	60.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ipswich and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA	$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$732,200±$63kLowest 30% above MA	$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA
	Ipswich and Eastham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,747±$101Highest about the MA average	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA
	Eastham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,973Lowest 17% below MA	$7,960Highest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Eastham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest MA: 10%	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 36% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	20.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Eastham 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	#17 of 282 in MA	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Eastham · Nauset	Ipswich
High school in town	Nauset Regional High	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Highest	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.