Compare towns
Rowley vs Lancaster vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering RowleyRowley
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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.
| Measure | Rowley | Lancaster | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,708Lowest |
8,606 |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% 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%±6.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Ipswich 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Ipswich 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 |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Lancaster and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,865Lowest 15% above MA |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$7,960Highest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest 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 minLowest 15% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #214 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Ipswich |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Ipswich High |
| 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.