What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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.

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

Measure	Wareham	Ipswich
People
Population	23,302Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA	47.2±3.5Lowest 18% above MA
	Wareham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Wareham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	60.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Wareham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,383±$11kLowest 13% below MA	$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA	$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA	$1,598±$90Highest 9% below MA
	Ipswich and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,341Lowest 28% below MA	$7,960Highest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ipswich and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.7%Highest MA: 10%	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1964Highest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ipswich and Wareham 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	#272 of 282 in MA	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Wareham	Ipswich
High school in town	Wareham Senior High	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Lowest	9.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.