Compare towns
Maynard vs Newfields 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 affordable homes ($527k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newfields | Ipswich | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
2,023Lowest |
13,930 |
18,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% 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. |
44.1±1.8 13% 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$16kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$138,750±$16k 72% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 59% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% 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. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,598±$90Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 165% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,960 155% above U.S. |
$7,444Lowest 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashland 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%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. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Maynard 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 | — | #101 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Newfields School District | Ipswich | Ashland |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | Ipswich High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | 9.0Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.