Compare towns
Ipswich vs Dedham vs Rowley vs Maynard
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 expensive homes ($745k median).
Dedham has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
Rowley has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Dedham | Rowley | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
25,237Highest |
6,251Lowest |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% 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%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley 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%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Rowley 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 |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
| Ipswich and Rowley 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 |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
| Ipswich and Rowley 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 |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 33% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | — | Triton | Maynard |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | — | None in town | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | — | 9.7Highest |
| 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.