Compare towns
Ipswich vs Acton vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ipswich has the most affordable homes ($745k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Essex has the shortest commute (25 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 | Ipswich | Acton | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
24,155Highest |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
45±3.4 13% above MA |
| Ipswich and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Essex and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
69% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$157,147±$24k 51% above MA |
| Acton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40kLowest 33% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$897,400±$59kHighest 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,964±$238 11% above MA |
| Acton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #101 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Acton-Boxborough | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| 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.