Compare towns
Ipswich vs Maynard vs Williamsburg 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 kids (18.9% under 18).
Maynard has the youngest population (median age 45.3).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k 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 | Williamsburg | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
10,712 |
2,694Lowest |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Williamsburg 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%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich and Williamsburg 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% |
22.7%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Williamsburg 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% |
60.6% MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Burlington 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 |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$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 |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% 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 |
$1,420±$228Lowest 19% below MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 33% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,165 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Ipswich 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% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg 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 | — | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Maynard | Williamsburg | Burlington |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Maynard High | None in town | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.7 |
— | 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.