What stands out worked out from the figures below

Essex has the most kids (23.9% under 18).

Ipswich has the most affordable 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	Essex	Ipswich
People
Population	3,701Lowest	13,930Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±3.4Lowest 13% above MA	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA
	Ipswich and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.9%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Essex and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ipswich and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69%Highest MA: 47.3%	60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ipswich and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$157,147±$24kHighest 51% above MA	$138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA
	Essex and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$897,400±$59kHighest 60% above MA	$745,400±$40kLowest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,964±$238Highest 11% above MA	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$7,960Lowest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±23.1 MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest MA: 10%	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 14% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	23.6%±7Highest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Essex 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	#93 of 282 in MA	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Manchester Essex Regional	Ipswich
High school in town	None in town	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.0
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.