Compare towns
Ipswich vs Maynard vs Sturbridge vs Burlington
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%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Sturbridge | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
10,712 |
9,960Lowest |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Sturbridge 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%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
| Burlington 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±$31k 6% below MA |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
| Ipswich and Burlington 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±$148 about the MA average |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 33% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Burlington 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
32 min 9% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Burlington 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Maynard | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Burlington |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Maynard High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
9.7 |
7.7Lowest |
11.3Highest |
| 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.