Compare towns
Ipswich vs Acton vs Rowley vs Hamilton
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 renters (25.6% rent).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Rowley has the most affordable homes ($667k median).
Hamilton has the most homeowners (84.7%).
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 | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
24,155Highest |
6,251Lowest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Rowley and Ipswich 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% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton 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 |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$129,833±$14kLowest 25% 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 |
$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
| Acton and Hamilton 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Rowley 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% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Hamilton 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Acton-Boxborough | Triton | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | 11.8 |
| 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.