Compare towns
Gloucester vs Upton vs Bourne 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 renters (36.1% rent).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).
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.
| Measure | Gloucester | Upton | Bourne | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,075Highest |
8,189Lowest |
20,323 |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.2±2.3 26% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
| Bourne and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Ipswich 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% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
46% MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne and Ipswich 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Upton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,600±$18k 7% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$575,600±$28kLowest about the MA average |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,411±$94 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$1,598±$90Highest 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,152 about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 18% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gloucester | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Gloucester High | Blackstone Valley | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
11.2Highest |
9.8 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.