Compare towns
Maynard vs Upton vs Ayer 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%).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Upton | Ayer | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
8,189Lowest |
8,645 |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Ayer 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer 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±$16k 19% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Upton 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±$31k 6% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
| Maynard and Ipswich 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ayer Shirley School District | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Blackstone Valley | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
11.2 |
11.5Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.