Compare towns
Maynard vs Sheffield vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Sheffield | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712 |
3,330Lowest |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
48.2±8Highest 21% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
| Sheffield and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich and Maynard 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% |
23.2%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Sheffield 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% |
37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Sheffield 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±$16k 19% above MA |
$92,120±$31kLowest 11% below MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard 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 |
$409,400±$32kLowest 27% below MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,837±$1kHighest 4% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Sheffield and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,520Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Maynard 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #250 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Southern Berkshire | Ipswich |
| High school in town | — | Mt Everett Regional | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8Lowest |
9.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.