Compare towns
Ipswich vs Springfield vs Burlington
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 oldest population (median age 47.2).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Springfield | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Lowest |
154,749Highest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Ipswich and Burlington 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
| Burlington 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±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
| Ipswich and Burlington 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 |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,165 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Ipswich 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Burlington 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Springfield | Burlington |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Springfield Central High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.3 |
| 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.