What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Cohasset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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	Cohasset
People
Population	13,930Highest	8,427Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA	43.9±4.4Lowest 10% above MA
	Ipswich and Cohasset 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%	27.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%	17.8%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ipswich and Cohasset 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%	76.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ipswich and Cohasset 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	$199,306±$53kHighest 92% above MA
	Cohasset 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±$40kLowest 33% above MA	$1,318,900±$165kHighest 135% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA	$2,755±$399Highest 56% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,960Lowest 33% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.6%±15.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Cohasset 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%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	37 minHighest 28% above MA
Work from home	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Cohasset 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	#41 of 282 in MA
School district	Ipswich	Cohasset
High school in town	Ipswich High	Cohasset High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0	9.0
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.