Compare towns
Maynard vs Maynard vs Sterling vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k 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 | Maynard | Maynard | Sterling | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
10,712 |
8,183Lowest |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
| Sterling and Ipswich 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling and Ipswich 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,699±$161 4% below MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,757Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #166 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Maynard | Wachusett | Ipswich |
| High school in town | — | Maynard High | None in town | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.