What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ipswich	Thompson
People
Population	13,930Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	47.2±3.5Lowest 21% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Ipswich and Thompson 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.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$745,400±$40kHighest 124% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,598±$90Highest 13% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,960Highest 155% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	18.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ipswich and Thompson 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Ipswich	Thompson School District
High school in town	Ipswich High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.