Compare towns
Ipswich vs Rowley vs Webster
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 people working from home (18.9%).
Rowley has the most homeowners (81.7%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($333k median).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
6,251Lowest |
12,228 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below 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% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster and Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
56.8% MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below 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 |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
| Ipswich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
| 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 33% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 3% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ipswich and Rowley 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Triton | — |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.