Compare towns
Ipswich vs Sutton vs Upton vs Rowley
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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($523k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Sutton | Upton | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
9,452 |
8,189 |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
| Ipswich and Upton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$16k 33% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$109,622±$17kLowest 5% above MA |
| Upton and Sutton 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 |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,663±$674Highest 6% 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 |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,865 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
78.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Sutton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Sutton High School | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.6Highest |
11.2 |
— |
| 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.