Compare towns
Rowley vs Ipswich vs Williamsburg
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%).
Ipswich has the highest household income ($139k).
Williamsburg has the most people working from home (26.5%).
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 | Rowley | Ipswich | Williamsburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,708Lowest |
13,930Highest |
2,694 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7Lowest 16% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Ipswich and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Williamsburg 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% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
60.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
| Ipswich and Rowley 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 |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674Highest 6% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,420±$228Lowest 19% 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 |
$7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 15% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.5%±6.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Williamsburg 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Ipswich | Williamsburg |
| High school in town | — | Ipswich High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.