Compare towns
Rowley vs Maynard vs Acton 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 the shortest commute (25 min average).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Maynard | Acton | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,708Lowest |
10,712 |
24,155Highest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Acton 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 |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Acton and Ipswich 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 |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Acton and Maynard 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 |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 15% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #214 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Maynard | Acton-Boxborough | Ipswich |
| High school in town | — | Maynard High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7 |
13.5Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.