Compare towns
Ipswich vs Marshfield vs Scituate 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 renters (25.6% rent).
Marshfield has the youngest population (median age 45.9).
Scituate has the most expensive homes ($848k median).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Marshfield | Scituate | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
25,879Highest |
19,365 |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
45.9±2.6Lowest 15% above MA |
47.1±3.1 18% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% 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%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Scituate and Marshfield 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% |
20.2%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Ipswich 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 |
$136,732±$16k 32% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
| Ipswich and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$680,300±$27k 21% above MA |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,772±$123Highest about the MA average |
$1,609±$311 9% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Marshfield and Scituate 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 |
$6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
$8,807Highest 47% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Marshfield and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
8.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 min 19% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
28%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Scituate and Marshfield 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 | #43 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Marshfield | Scituate | Triton |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Marshfield High | Scituate High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.0 |
11.3Highest |
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| 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.