What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).

Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ipswich	Northborough
People
Population	13,930Lowest	15,750Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA	45±3Lowest 13% above MA
	Ipswich and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northborough 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%	17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Ipswich and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	65.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Northborough 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±$16kLowest 33% above MA	$153,199±$19kHighest 47% above MA
	Northborough 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	$620,000±$24kLowest 10% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA	$1,919±$269Highest 9% above MA
	Northborough and Ipswich 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	$7,983Highest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8%	50.1%±16.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ipswich and Northborough 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest same as MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	31 minHighest 7% above MA
Work from home	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.5%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northborough 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	#35 of 282 in MA
School district	Ipswich	Northborough · Northboro-Southboro
High school in town	Ipswich High	Algonquin Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	10.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.