Compare towns
Maynard vs Gray vs Ipswich vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Gray | Ipswich | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
8,429Lowest |
13,930 |
18,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
47.2±3.5Highest 21% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Gray and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ipswich and Gray 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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 54% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$138,750±$16kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
| 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±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$745,400±$40kHighest 124% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,598±$90 13% above U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 165% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$7,960 155% above U.S. |
$7,444 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #101 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Ipswich | Ashland |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Ipswich High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
12.5 |
9.0Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.