What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ipswich has the most kids (18.9% under 18).

Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ipswich	Burlington
People
Population	13,930Lowest	26,274Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA	45.9±2.2Lowest 15% above MA
	Ipswich and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Ipswich and Burlington 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%	21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Burlington 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	$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA
	Burlington 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±$40kHighest 33% above MA	$740,600±$35kLowest 32% above MA
	Ipswich and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA	$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,960Highest 33% above MA	$6,165Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8%	50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ipswich and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%	5.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Burlington 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	#83 of 282 in MA
School district	Ipswich	Burlington
High school in town	Ipswich High	Burlington High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	11.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.