Compare towns
Rowley vs Lowell 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 homeowners (81.7%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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.
| Measure | Rowley | Lowell | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
118,368Highest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
30%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% 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 |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% 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±$520 9% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Lowell and Rowley 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 |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Lowell 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% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ipswich and Rowley 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Lowell | Ipswich |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
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.