Compare towns
Ipswich vs Spencer vs Maynard
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).
Spencer has the most affordable homes ($382k median).
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Spencer | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
12,008 |
10,712Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
48.9±6.8Highest 22% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
| Spencer and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich and Maynard 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% |
26%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Spencer 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% MA: 47.3% |
29.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Spencer 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±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$80,533±$11kLowest 23% below MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard 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 |
$382,000±$22kLowest 32% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,078±$161Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
| Maynard 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 |
$4,387Lowest 27% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±10.3 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
63%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
15%±7.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #261 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Spencer-E Brookfield | Maynard |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | David Prouty High | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.9Highest |
9.7 |
| 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.