What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Ipswich has the most affordable 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Needham	Ipswich
People
Population	32,459Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA
	Ipswich and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA	$138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA	$745,400±$40kLowest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$7,960Lowest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%	5.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Needham	Ipswich
High school in town	Needham High	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	9.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.