What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).

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	Holden	Ipswich
People
Population	20,064Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±1.8Lowest 4% above MA	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	24.9%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ipswich and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	60.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Holden and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$141,923±$11kHighest 37% above MA	$138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA
	Holden and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,700±$13kLowest 16% below MA	$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,648±$214Highest 6% below MA	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA
	Holden and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,359Lowest 6% above MA	$7,960Highest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.4%±7.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ipswich and Holden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%	5.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 6% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ipswich and Holden 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	#57 of 282 in MA	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Wachusett	Ipswich
High school in town	Wachusett Regional High	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.0Highest	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.