Compare towns
Ipswich vs Millis 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).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Millis | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
8,888 |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
46.4±3Lowest 16% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
| Rowley and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Ipswich 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Millis and Rowley 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 |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
| Millis 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 |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
| Ipswich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Millis and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ipswich and Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Millis | Triton |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Millis High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
10.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

