Compare towns
Rowley vs Northbridge 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%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Ipswich has the highest household income ($139k).
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 | Northbridge | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,708Lowest |
16,458Highest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Northbridge 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 |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674Highest 6% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% 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 |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$7,960Highest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 15% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ipswich and Northbridge 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Northbridge | Ipswich |
| High school in town | — | Northbridge High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.