Compare towns
Maynard vs Acton vs Needham 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 the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Acton | Needham | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
24,155 |
32,459Highest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% 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% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Acton 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% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest 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% MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Acton 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 |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Ipswich 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% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Needham 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Acton-Boxborough | Needham | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Needham High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
13.5Highest |
11.9 |
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.