Compare towns
Ipswich vs Acton vs Rowley
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 oldest population (median age 47.2).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Rowley has the most affordable homes ($615k 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 | Ipswich | Acton | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
24,155Highest |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
| Ipswich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$109,622±$17kLowest 5% above MA |
| Acton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$614,800±$39kLowest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,663±$674 6% below MA |
| Acton and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 33% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,865Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
78.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #101 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.