Compare towns
Ipswich vs Stoneham vs Essex
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).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($897k median).
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 | Stoneham | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
23,355Highest |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
45±3.4 13% above MA |
| Ipswich and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Essex and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Stoneham 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% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Stoneham 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 33% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above MA |
$157,147±$24kHighest 51% above MA |
| Essex 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 33% above MA |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
$897,400±$59kHighest 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,964±$238 11% above MA |
| Stoneham and Essex 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 |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±23.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest same as MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±7 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Essex 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Stoneham | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Stoneham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
10.7Highest |
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| 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.