Compare towns

Rowley vs Springfield vs Ipswich

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
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.

MeasureRowleySpringfieldIpswich
People
Population
6,251
1,122Lowest
13,930Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50±6.3
29% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
47.2±3.5Lowest
21% above U.S.
Springfield and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$32k
64% above U.S.
$100,893±$19kLowest
25% above U.S.
$138,750±$16kHighest
72% above U.S.
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
101% above U.S.
$384,100±$50kLowest
15% above U.S.
$745,400±$40kHighest
124% above U.S.
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
13% above U.S.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,598±$90
13% above U.S.
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
166% above U.S.
$5,946Lowest
91% above U.S.
$7,960
155% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±27.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.5%±12.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Rowley and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
7% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
Work from home
11.1%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
18.9%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Ipswich and Springfield 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 — #101 of 282 in MA
School district Triton — Ipswich
High school 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

U.S. 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.