Compare towns
Rowley vs Norwell vs Upton 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).
Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
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 | Norwell | Upton | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
11,361 |
8,189 |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
46.4±4.8 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell 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% |
16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 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% |
69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 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 |
$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Norwell 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 |
$865,700±$35kHighest 54% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520 9% below MA |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
| Norwell 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Norwell and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
35 min 21% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Norwell 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Norwell | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ipswich |
| High school in town | None in town | Norwell High | Blackstone Valley | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
11.2 |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.