Compare towns
Ipswich vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 47.2).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Burlington has the shortest commute (28 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 | Needham | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Lowest |
32,459Highest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Ipswich and Burlington 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$16kLowest 33% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$740,600±$35kLowest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Burlington and Needham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #101 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Needham | Burlington |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Needham High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.3 |
| 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.