What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.2%).

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.

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

Measure	Northborough	Ipswich
People
Population	15,750Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±3Lowest 13% above MA	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA
	Ipswich and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northborough and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Ipswich and Northborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	65.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Northborough and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$153,199±$19kHighest 47% above MA	$138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA
	Northborough and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$620,000±$24kLowest 10% above MA	$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,919±$269Highest 9% above MA	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA
	Northborough and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,983Highest 33% above MA	$7,960Lowest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.1%±16.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ipswich and Northborough 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	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	22.5%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Northborough and Ipswich 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	#35 of 282 in MA	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Northborough · Northboro-Southboro	Ipswich
High school in town	Algonquin Regional High	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	9.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.