Compare towns
Ipswich vs Maynard vs Middlefield 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 expensive homes ($745k median).
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k median).
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 | Maynard | Middlefield | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
10,712 |
352Lowest |
1,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest 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%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Middlefield 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% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest 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 |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$103,750±$23kLowest about the MA average |
$109,622±$17k 5% 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 |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,663±$674 6% below MA |
| Middlefield and Maynard 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 |
$4,926Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,865 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Maynard | — | — |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Maynard High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.