Compare towns
Ipswich vs Windham vs Essex
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 oldest population (median age 47.2).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Essex has the most expensive homes ($897k 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.
| Measure | Ipswich | Windham | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
16,038Highest |
3,701Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45±3.4 16% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ipswich and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
69%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ipswich and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,750±$16kLowest 72% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$157,147±$24k 95% above U.S. |
| Windham and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40k 124% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S. |
$897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,964±$238 39% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Lowest 155% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Essex and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Windham School District | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.