What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winchester has the most people working from home (33.8%).

Ipswich has the most affordable 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	Winchester	Ipswich
People
Population	23,406Highest	13,930Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA	47.2±3.5Highest 18% 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	27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.9%±2.4Highest 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+	79.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Winchester and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA	$138,750±$16kLowest 33% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA	$745,400±$40kLowest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA	$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$7,960Lowest 33% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ipswich and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%	5.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA	1964Highest same as MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6%	18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#11 of 282 in MA	#101 of 282 in MA
School district	Winchester	Ipswich
High school in town	Winchester High School	Ipswich High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	9.0Lowest
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.