Compare towns
Rowley vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
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 | Salem | Upton | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
44,795Highest |
8,189 |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Upton 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 |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$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 |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
| Salem 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 |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Salem | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Ipswich |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | Blackstone Valley | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
11.2Highest |
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.