Compare towns
Ipswich vs Springfield vs Rowley vs Topsfield
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).
Rowley has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Topsfield has the most people working from home (29.4%).
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 | Rowley | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
154,749Highest |
1,708Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Ipswich and Rowley 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%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Springfield 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Topsfield 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield 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±$16k 33% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,663±$674Highest 6% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,865 15% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.6% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
25 min 15% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Springfield | — | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Springfield Central High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— | — |
| 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.