Compare towns
Hull vs Ipswich vs Maynard vs Brewster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hull has the oldest housing (typical home built 1946).
Ipswich has the highest household income ($139k).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Brewster has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Hull | Ipswich | Maynard | Brewster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,138Lowest |
13,930Highest |
10,712 |
10,420 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
59.6±4.7Highest 49% above MA |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.6%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hull and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,485±$14k 11% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$103,317±$16kLowest about the MA average |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$707,700±$51k 26% above MA |
| Ipswich and Brewster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,589±$465Lowest 10% below MA |
| Hull and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,089 about the MA average |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,397Lowest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.2%±23.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Brewster and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
85%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 14% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
21 minLowest 28% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.3%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Brewster 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #160 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hull | Ipswich | Maynard | Brewster |
| High school in town | Hull High | Ipswich High | Maynard High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.8Lowest |
9.0 |
9.7Highest |
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| 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.