Compare towns
Rowley vs Maynard vs Ipswich vs Hatfield
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%).
Maynard has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ipswich has the most expensive homes ($745k median).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ipswich | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,708Lowest |
10,712 |
13,930Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
| Ipswich and Hatfield 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%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest 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%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Hatfield 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 |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard 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±$31k 6% below MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
| Maynard and Rowley 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 15% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Maynard | Ipswich | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Maynard High | Ipswich High | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Highest |
9.0 |
6.1Lowest |
| 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.