Compare towns
Ipswich vs Rye vs Rowley
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 most renters (25.6% rent).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Rye | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
5,611 |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
46.3±16.7Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ipswich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rowley 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$109,622±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$614,800±$39kLowest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,663±$674 18% above U.S. |
| Rye and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Highest 155% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$6,865Lowest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±45.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ipswich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #101 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Rye School District | — |
| 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 |
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.