Compare towns
Ipswich vs Maynard vs Townsend
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).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Maynard | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
10,712 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
| Ipswich and Maynard 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Maynard 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard 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 |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
| Maynard and Ipswich 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Townsend 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | — | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | — | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.