Compare towns
Rowley vs Shirley 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Shirley has the most affordable homes ($428k median).
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 | Shirley | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
6,976 |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
44.3±3.4Lowest 11% 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% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest 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%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Lowest 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% |
36.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Shirley 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±$32k 28% above MA |
$122,365±$16kLowest 18% above 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 |
$427,600±$36kLowest 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±$520Highest 9% below MA |
$1,481±$421Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% 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 | $8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$5,156Lowest 14% below MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Shirley 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% |
9.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1964Lowest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Shirley and Ipswich 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 | #239 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Ayer Shirley School District | Ipswich |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
| 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.