What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ipswich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

Marshfield has the most people working from home (24.8%).

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	Marshfield
People
Population	13,930Lowest	25,879Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA	45.9±2.6Lowest 15% above MA
	Ipswich and Marshfield 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%	19.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Marshfield 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%	20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ipswich and Marshfield 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%	52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ipswich and Marshfield 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	$125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA
	Ipswich and Marshfield 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	$680,300±$27kLowest 21% above MA
	Ipswich and Marshfield 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	$1,772±$123Highest about the MA average
	Marshfield and Ipswich 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	$6,656Lowest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marshfield 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%	8.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	80.8%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	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.8%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Marshfield 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	#54 of 282 in MA
School district	Ipswich	Marshfield
High school in town	Ipswich High	Marshfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	11.0Highest
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.