Compare towns
Ipswich vs Ogunquit vs Rowley vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ipswich has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Rowley has the most affordable homes ($667k median).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
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 | Ogunquit | Rowley | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
1,379Lowest |
6,251 |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rowley and Ogunquit 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 72% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$132,734±$32k 64% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40k 124% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$667,300±$52kLowest 101% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 13% above U.S. |
— | $1,603±$520Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rowley and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 155% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,309 166% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield 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 | — | #214 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | — | Triton | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.