Compare towns
Ipswich vs Swampscott 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 renters (25.6% rent).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Rowley has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Swampscott | Upton | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
15,277Highest |
8,189 |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 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% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Swampscott 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% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
57.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Swampscott 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 |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$109,622±$17kLowest 5% above MA |
| Upton 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 |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
| Swampscott and Ipswich 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 |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,663±$674 6% below MA |
| Swampscott and Rowley 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 |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,865Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1955 9 yrs older 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 |
34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Upton 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 | #76 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Swampscott | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Swampscott High | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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.