Compare towns
Maynard vs Reading vs Ipswich vs Ashland
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).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Ipswich has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Reading | Ipswich | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
25,612Highest |
13,930 |
18,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
42.1±1.4Lowest 5% 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ashland 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
| Reading and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Ashland and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$7,444Lowest 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
3.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Reading | Ipswich | Ashland |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Reading Memorial High | Ipswich High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
12.1 |
9.0Lowest |
14.0Highest |
| 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.