Compare towns

Ipswich vs Hull vs Rowley

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).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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.

MeasureIpswichHullRowley
People
Population
13,930Highest
10,138
6,251Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.6%
MA: +7.4%
-2.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.2±3.5Lowest
18% above MA
56.1±1.8Highest
40% above MA
50±6.3
25% above MA
Hull and Rowley 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%
11.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.3%±4.5Highest
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%±2.4
MA: 17.9%
26.1%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.6%±4.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Hull and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
50.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
56.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
Rowley and Hull 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
$115,485±$14kLowest
11% above MA
$132,734±$32k
28% 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
$646,000±$38kLowest
15% above MA
$667,300±$52k
19% above 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
$2,081±$187Highest
18% above MA
$1,603±$520
9% below MA
Hull and Rowley 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
$6,089Lowest
about the MA average
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.5%±12.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±14
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±27.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
Rowley and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.7%
MA: 10%
5.8%Highest
MA: 10%
3.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
79.6%
MA: 62.5%
81.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1964
same as MA
1946Lowest
18 yrs older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
about the MA average
33 minHighest
14% above MA
28 minLowest
3% below MA
Work from home
18.9%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
19.7%±4.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
11.1%±4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Hull 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 #66 of 282 in MA #214 of 282 in MA
School district Ipswich — Triton
High school in town Ipswich High — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0
— —
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.