What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Walpole	Ipswich
People
Population	26,388Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average	47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Walpole and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA	$138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA	$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA
	Ipswich and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,523Highest 42% above MA	$7,960Lowest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ipswich and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%	5.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1964Lowest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#107 of 282 in MA	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole	Ipswich
High school in town	Walpole High	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	9.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.