Compare towns
Ipswich vs Windham vs Rowley
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 renters (25.6% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
16,038Highest |
1,708Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46.3±16.7 19% above U.S. |
| Ipswich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rowley 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 72% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$109,622±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40kHighest 124% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$614,800±$39kLowest 85% above U.S. |
| Ipswich and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,663±$674 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 155% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,865Lowest 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±45.1Lowest 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% |
6.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.