Compare towns
Rowley vs Ipswich vs Upton vs Boxford
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 oldest population (median age 50).
Ipswich has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Boxford has the most expensive homes ($979k 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.
| Measure | Rowley | Ipswich | Upton | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251 |
13,930Highest |
8,189 |
2,284Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
49.2±6.4 23% above MA |
| Rowley and Boxford 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% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
28.2%±9.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Boxford and Upton 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.3 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 | $132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$188,482±$43kHighest 81% above MA |
| Boxford and Upton 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 |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$979,100±$237kHighest 74% above MA |
| Boxford and Ipswich 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 |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% 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 |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
83.1%±73.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Boxford 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% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
23.9%±10.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boxford and Upton 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Ipswich | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Ipswich High | Blackstone Valley | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.