Compare towns
Maynard vs Salem 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 people working from home (22.9%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).
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 | Salem | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
44,795Highest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
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%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich and Maynard 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard 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 |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Salem and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Salem | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Salem High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.8Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.