Compare towns
Maynard vs Everett vs Ipswich vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).
Ashland has the most homeowners (75.3%).
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 | Maynard | Everett | Ipswich | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
50,045Highest |
13,930 |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
| Ipswich and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$7,444 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Ashland 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Everett | Ipswich | Ashland |
| High school in town | — | Everett High | Ipswich High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
9.0Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.