Compare towns
Rowley vs Wolfeboro 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%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,251Lowest |
6,571 |
13,930Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
47.2±3.5Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%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% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% 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. |
$546,500±$60kLowest 64% 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. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 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. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,960 155% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Ipswich |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional 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 |
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.