Compare towns
Ipswich vs Ware 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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Essex has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
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 | Ware | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Highest |
10,048 |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±6.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Essex and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
69%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$897,400±$59kHighest 60% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,964±$238Highest 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 33% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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 MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
8.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Essex and Ipswich 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Ware | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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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.