Compare towns
Wellesley vs Ipswich vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Ipswich has the most affordable homes ($745k median).
Winchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Wellesley | Ipswich | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347Highest |
13,930Lowest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
| Ipswich and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA |
$230,198±$21k 121% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$745,400±$40kLowest 33% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39k 116% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
| Wellesley and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Winchester and Wellesley 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ipswich | Winchester |
| High school in town | — | Ipswich High | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.