Compare towns
Gloucester vs Rockport vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gloucester has the most affordable homes ($601k median).
Rockport has the oldest population (median age 59.7).
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.
| Measure | Gloucester | Rockport | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,075Highest |
7,009Lowest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.2±2.3 26% above MA |
59.7±3.3Highest 49% above MA |
47.2±3.5Lowest 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
38.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.1% MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ipswich and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,883±$6kLowest 19% below MA |
$96,250±$15k 7% below MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,600±$18kLowest 7% above MA |
$746,100±$47kHighest 33% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Rockport and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,411±$94Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,851±$219Highest 5% above MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
| Rockport and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,152Lowest about the MA average |
$6,215 4% above MA |
$7,960Highest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
71.1%±17Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rockport and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.3% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22%±5.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Rockport 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 | #164 of 282 in MA | #124 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gloucester | Rockport | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Gloucester High | Rockport Middle High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Highest |
8.3Lowest |
9.0 |
| 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.