Compare towns
Ipswich vs Rowley vs Stoneham 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).
Rowley has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Stoneham has the most people working from home (24.6%).
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 | Rowley | Stoneham | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
1,708Lowest |
23,355Highest |
6,251 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% 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%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham 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 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Ipswich 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% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley 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±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$109,622±$17kLowest 5% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
| Ipswich and Rowley 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 |
$614,800±$39kLowest 9% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,603±$520 9% below MA |
| Stoneham and Rowley 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 |
$6,865 15% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% |
6.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.6% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | — | Stoneham | Triton |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | — | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
— |
| 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.