Compare towns
Newburyport vs Scituate vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newburyport has the oldest population (median age 49.8).
Scituate has the most homeowners (87.8%).
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.
| Measure | Newburyport | Scituate | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,652 |
19,365Highest |
13,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.8±2.9Highest 25% above MA |
47.1±3.1Lowest 18% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
| Newburyport and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Scituate and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Newburyport and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.8% MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $139,625±$21kHighest 34% above MA |
$136,732±$16kLowest 32% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Newburyport and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $834,000±$37k 48% above MA |
$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA |
$745,400±$40kLowest 33% above MA |
| Scituate and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,592±$221Lowest 10% below MA |
$1,609±$311Highest 9% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
| Scituate and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,944Lowest 33% above MA |
$8,807Highest 47% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.4%±9.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.7%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Scituate and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
87.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
38 minHighest 31% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 28.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
28%±4 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Newburyport and Scituate 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 | #56 of 282 in MA | #43 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newburyport | Scituate | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Newburyport High | Scituate High School | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.