Compare towns
Ipswich vs Maynard vs Meredith vs Rowley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).
Maynard has the youngest population (median age 45.3).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Rowley has the most homeowners (81.7%).
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 | Meredith | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
10,712 |
6,758 |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 72% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$132,734±$32k 64% above U.S. |
| 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 124% above U.S. |
$527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$667,300±$52k 101% above U.S. |
| 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±$90 13% above U.S. |
$1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,603±$520 13% above U.S. |
| Maynard and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 155% above U.S. |
$8,266 165% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rowley and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Maynard 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Maynard | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Triton |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Maynard High | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.7 |
11.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.