Compare towns
Ipswich vs Plainfield vs Essex
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 population (median age 47.2).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Essex has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
15,141Highest |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 21% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45±3.4 16% above U.S. |
| Ipswich and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ipswich and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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±$16k 72% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$157,147±$24kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Essex 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±$40k 124% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 13% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,964±$238Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 155% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Essex 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Plainfield School District | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Plainfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.