Compare towns
Halifax vs Ipswich vs Maynard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Halifax | Ipswich | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,748Lowest |
13,930Highest |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±4.7Lowest 5% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Halifax and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Halifax and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,556±$11kLowest 14% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,500±$51kLowest 14% below MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
| Halifax and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,840Lowest 14% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 13.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #120 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Halifax | Ipswich | Maynard |
| High school in town | None in town | Ipswich High | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
9.7Highest |
| 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.