Compare towns
Rowley vs Dover 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 most affordable homes ($667k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
Ipswich has the most renters (25.6% rent).
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 | Dover | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251 |
2,308Lowest |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
47.2±3.5Lowest 18% above MA |
| Rowley and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520Highest 9% below MA |
— | $1,598±$90Lowest 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 | $8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.3% MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #214 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | — | 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.