Compare towns

Rowley vs Hadley vs Ipswich

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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.

MeasureRowleyHadleyIpswich
People
Population
1,708Lowest
5,306
13,930Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.3±16.7
16% above MA
45.8±7.1Lowest
15% above MA
47.2±3.5Highest
18% above MA
Ipswich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±6.9
MA: 19.4%
16.2%±4.6Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18.9%±2.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
Ipswich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.3%±4.8
MA: 17.9%
24.2%±4.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Hadley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
61.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
60.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±5.8
MA: 7.9%
10.9%±5.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Hadley and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$109,622±$17kLowest
5% above MA
$119,259±$12k
15% above MA
$138,750±$16kHighest
33% above MA
Ipswich and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$614,800±$39k
9% above MA
$511,000±$43kLowest
9% below MA
$745,400±$40kHighest
33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,663±$674Highest
6% below MA
$1,402±$132Lowest
20% below MA
$1,598±$90
9% below MA
Rowley and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,865
15% above MA
$5,271Lowest
12% below MA
$7,960Highest
33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±45.1
MA: 51.8%
38.6%±18.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
51.5%±12.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
Ipswich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.1%
MA: 10%
6.4%Highest
MA: 10%
5.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
74.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1971Highest
7 yrs newer than MA
1964
same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
15% below MA
20 minLowest
33% below MA
29 minHighest
about the MA average
Work from home
10.9%±5.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20.1%±7.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
18.9%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
Hadley 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 #214 of 282 in MA #116 of 282 in MA #101 of 282 in MA
School district — Hadley Ipswich
High school in town — Hopkins Academy Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.3Lowest
9.0Highest
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.