Compare towns
Ipswich vs Northbridge vs Sutton 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).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
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.
| Measure | Ipswich | Northbridge | Sutton | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
16,458Highest |
9,452 |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% 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%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Rowley 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below 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±$90 9% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA |
| Rowley and Ipswich 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 |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Northbridge | Sutton | Triton |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
10.8 |
12.6Highest |
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| 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.