Compare towns
Ipswich vs Burlington vs Wrentham
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).
Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Wrentham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).
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 | Burlington | Wrentham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
26,274Highest |
12,297Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
45.9±2.2Lowest 15% above MA |
46.8±3.2 17% above MA |
| Ipswich and Wrentham 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% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.8%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wrentham and Ipswich 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% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
55.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wrentham and Burlington 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±$14k 41% above MA |
$151,676±$17kHighest 46% above MA |
| Wrentham and Burlington 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±$35k 32% above MA |
$654,900±$26kLowest 17% 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±$90 9% below MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,184±$628Lowest 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$7,373 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.6%±15.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
6.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.9%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Burlington and Wrentham 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 | #49 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Burlington | King Philip · Wrentham |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Burlington High | King Philip Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.3 |
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.