Compare towns
Ipswich vs Ogunquit vs Stow vs Burlington
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1964).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Burlington has the most renters (25.8% rent).
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 | Stow | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
1,379Lowest |
7,165 |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4%Lowest 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% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Burlington 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. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$146,436±$14k 81% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40k 124% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39kLowest 119% above U.S. |
$740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 13% above U.S. |
— | $1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 155% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,165 98% 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% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Stow 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 | — | #44 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | — | Nashoba | Burlington |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | — | None in town | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | — | 11.3Highest |
| 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.