Compare towns
Ipswich vs Maynard vs Northfield
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%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k 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 | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
10,712 |
2,872Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA |
| Northfield and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich and Maynard 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% |
25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Northfield 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% |
42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northfield 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 |
$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,142±$200Lowest 35% 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 |
$4,594Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.2%±25.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Northfield 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%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.5%±10.3Lowest 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 | #231 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Maynard | Pioneer Valley |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Maynard High | Pioneer Valley Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.7 |
10.7Highest |
| 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.