Compare towns
Rowley vs Millis 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 oldest population (median age 50).
Millis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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.
| Measure | Rowley | Millis | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
8,888 |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
46.4±3Lowest 16% 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% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis 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% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis 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 |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Millis and Ipswich 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 |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above 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 |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Millis and Rowley 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 |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Millis 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ipswich and Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Millis | Ipswich |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.