Compare towns
Maynard vs Sharon 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 affordable homes ($527k median).
Sharon has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Ipswich has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Sharon | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
18,574Highest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
42.5±1Lowest 6% above MA |
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%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.2%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±2.4Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
76.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Sharon 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 |
$191,835±$19kHighest 85% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$737,100±$33k 31% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,310±$345Highest 31% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49%±16.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Sharon 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
87.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
39 minHighest 33% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sharon 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 | #23 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Sharon | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Sharon High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.9Highest |
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.