What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k median).

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	Easthampton	Ipswich
People
Population	16,086Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.6% MA: +7.4%
Median age	46±2.6Lowest 15% above MA	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA
	Ipswich and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ipswich and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Easthampton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Lowest MA: 47.3%	60.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Easthampton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA	$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA	$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA	$1,598±$90Highest 9% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Lowest 18% below MA	$7,960Highest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ipswich and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest MA: 10%	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 23% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Easthampton 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	#92 of 282 in MA	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Easthampton	Ipswich
High school in town	Easthampton 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.