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 highest household income ($139k).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Hull | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
10,138 |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
46.3±16.7Lowest 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Rowley 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% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest 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±$14k 11% above MA |
$109,622±$17kLowest 5% above MA |
| Ipswich and Hull 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±$38k 15% above MA |
$614,800±$39kLowest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,663±$674 6% 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 | $7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
$6,865 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hull and Ipswich 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
6.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest 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 | Hull | — |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Hull High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
8.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.