What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k median).

Ipswich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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	Mansfield	Ipswich
People
Population	23,931Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Mansfield and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	60.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Mansfield and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,273±$15kLowest 21% above MA	$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA
	Ipswich and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$28kLowest 7% above MA	$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA
	Mansfield and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,226Lowest 21% above MA	$7,960Highest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ipswich and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%	5.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Mansfield 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	#60 of 282 in MA	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Mansfield	Ipswich
High school in town	Mansfield High	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	9.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.