Compare towns
Ipswich vs Wells vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ipswich has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Burlington has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Wells | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
11,713Lowest |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.9±2.2Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Wells and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ipswich and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Burlington and Wells 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 72% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$146,436±$14kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Burlington 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±$40kHighest 124% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$740,600±$35k 123% above U.S. |
| Ipswich and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 13% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,718±$368Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Highest 155% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$6,165 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ipswich and Burlington 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Burlington 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Burlington |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Wells High School | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.4Highest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.