Compare towns
Rowley vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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.
| Measure | Rowley | Ware | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
10,048 |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rowley and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Rowley 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 3% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Ipswich and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Ware | Ipswich |
| High school in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.