Compare towns

Rowley vs Hatfield 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 (+5.2%).
Hatfield has the most affordable homes ($441k median).
Ipswich has the most people working from home (18.9%).

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.

MeasureRowleyHatfieldIpswich
People
Population
6,251
3,325Lowest
13,930Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
50±6.3Highest
25% above MA
46.8±5Lowest
17% above MA
47.2±3.5
18% above MA
Rowley and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
14%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18.9%±2.7
MA: 19.4%
Rowley and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±4.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23.3%±4.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2.4
MA: 17.9%
Hatfield and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
56.8%
MA: 47.3%
48.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
60.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Hatfield 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±$32k
28% above MA
$89,005±$25kLowest
14% below MA
$138,750±$16kHighest
33% above MA
Ipswich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$667,300±$52k
19% above MA
$440,800±$26kLowest
22% below MA
$745,400±$40kHighest
33% above MA
Ipswich and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,603±$520Highest
9% below MA
$1,267±$216Lowest
28% 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
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$4,930Lowest
18% below MA
$7,960
33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±27.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
42.6%±11.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
51.5%±12.2
MA: 51.8%
Rowley and Ipswich 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%
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
5.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
74.6%
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 min
3% below MA
20 minLowest
30% below MA
29 minHighest
about the MA average
Work from home
11.1%±4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
16%±6.3
MA: 18.6%
18.9%±3.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Ipswich and Hatfield 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 #198 of 282 in MA #101 of 282 in MA
School district Triton Hatfield Ipswich
High school in town None in town Smith Academy Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school —
6.1Lowest
9.0Highest
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.