Compare towns

Rowley vs Sutton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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.

MeasureRowleySuttonIpswich
People
Population
1,708Lowest
9,452
13,930Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46.3±16.7
16% above MA
44.3±2.5Lowest
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%±6.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.9%±2.7
MA: 19.4%
Sutton 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%
18.8%±3.2Lowest
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%
52.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
60.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±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
$147,125±$25kHighest
42% above MA
$138,750±$16k
33% above MA
Sutton 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
$523,100±$47kLowest
7% below MA
$745,400±$40kHighest
33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,663±$674Highest
6% below MA
$1,190±$401Lowest
32% 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
$6,763Lowest
13% above MA
$7,960Highest
33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±45.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4
MA: 51.8%
51.5%±12.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
Ipswich and Sutton 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%
5.8%
MA: 10%
5.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.6%
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
74.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1964
same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
15% below MA
30 minHighest
about the MA average
29 min
about the MA average
Work from home
10.9%±5.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
18.9%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
Sutton 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 #105 of 282 in MA #101 of 282 in MA
School district — Sutton Ipswich
High school in town — Sutton High School Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.6Highest
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.