Compare towns
Maynard vs Rye 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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Ipswich has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
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 | Rye | Ipswich | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
5,611Lowest |
13,930 |
18,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest 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. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Ipswich and Ashland 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$138,750±$16k 72% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
| Rye 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 59% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$745,400±$40k 124% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,598±$90Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 165% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% 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% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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% |
6.9% 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% |
85.5%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. |
1972 8 yrs older 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 9% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #101 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Rye 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 | 12 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.