What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).

Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

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	Ipswich	Ashland
People
Population	13,930Lowest	18,873Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA	42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ipswich and Ashland 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%	18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ipswich and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	60.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ashland 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±$16kHighest 33% above MA	$127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA
	Ipswich and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA	$611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA	$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,960Highest 33% above MA	$7,444Lowest 24% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Highest MA: 10%	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	37 minHighest 26% above MA
Work from home	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ashland and Ipswich 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	#42 of 282 in MA
School district	Ipswich	Ashland
High school in town	Ipswich High	Ashland High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	14.0Highest
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.