Compare towns
Ipswich vs Maynard vs Middleton 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 kids (18.9% under 18).
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
Rowley has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Middleton | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
10,712 |
9,816 |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
| Ipswich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3 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%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 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±$16k 33% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
$109,622±$17kLowest 5% above MA |
| Middleton and Ipswich 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±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$742,700±$48k 32% above MA |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
| Ipswich and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,663±$674 6% below MA |
| 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 33% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
$6,865Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1986Highest 22 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 3% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Maynard | Middleton | — |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Maynard High | None in town | — |
| 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.