Compare towns
Ipswich vs Reading vs Walpole 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 renters (25.6% rent).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Reading | Walpole | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
25,612 |
26,388Highest |
6,251Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Reading 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Rowley 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 |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Walpole and Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Walpole 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Triton |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.3 |
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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.