Compare towns
Ipswich vs Springfield 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 highest household income ($139k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
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 | Springfield | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,708 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
46.3±16.7Lowest 19% above U.S. |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rowley 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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±$16kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$109,622±$17k 36% above U.S. |
| 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 124% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$614,800±$39k 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 13% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,663±$674Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Rowley and Ipswich 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. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,865 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ipswich and Springfield 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 |
| School district | Ipswich | — | — |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | — | — |
| 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.


