What are the schools like in Ipswich, MA?

Ipswich is served primarily by Ipswich. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.6:1.

What is the median household income in Ipswich?

The median household income in Ipswich, MA is $95,342 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.8%.

What is the weather like in Ipswich, MA?

Ipswich has an average high temperature of 36.6°F in January and 80.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 51.4 inches.

Ipswich, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Ipswich, MA affordable or expensive?

Ipswich's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Ipswich is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $562,300 and the median rent is $1,367 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Ipswich, MA?

Ipswich has a violent crime rate of 133.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 274.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Ipswich, MA a Good Place to Live?

Ipswich is a small town of 4,872 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $95,342 and a 2.8% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Ipswich stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices. Whether Ipswich is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Ipswich city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 111.6

Ipswich's overall cost of living index is 111.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Ipswich costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Ipswich, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$562,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,367	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.1%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$95,342	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Ipswich's violent crime rate is 133.7 per 100,000 residents — 65% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

133.7 /100k

Property Crime

274.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Ipswich is served primarily by Ipswich. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Ipswich, MA	National Avg
School District	Ipswich	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	51.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Ipswich sees average highs of 36.6°F in January and 80.1°F in July, with 48.0 inches of annual precipitation and 51.4 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Ipswich, MA
Average High — January	36.6°F
Average High — July	80.1°F
Annual Precipitation	48.0"
Annual Snowfall	51.4"

Demographics

Metric	Ipswich, MA	National Avg
Population	4,872	—
Median Age	42.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.8%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	26.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.8%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.3%	18.9%
Asian	3.9%	6.3%
Under 18	19.6%	22.2%
65 and over	14.0%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Essex, MA 4 mi Rowley, MA 4 mi Topsfield, MA 7 mi Gloucester, MA 8 mi Boxford, MA 8 mi

ZIP Codes in Ipswich

Ipswich, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

01938

Ipswich vs Other Cities

Ipswich, MA vs Essex, MA Ipswich, MA vs Rowley, MA Ipswich, MA vs Topsfield, MA Ipswich, MA vs Gloucester, MA Ipswich, MA vs Boxford, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ipswich, MA affordable or expensive?

Ipswich's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Ipswich roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $562,300 and median rent is $1,367/month.

What is the crime rate in Ipswich, MA?

Ipswich's violent crime rate is 133.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 274.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Ipswich?

Public schools in Ipswich are operated by Ipswich. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1. 51.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Ipswich, MA a good place to live?

Ipswich, MA has a population of 4,872, a median household income of $95,342, and an unemployment rate of 2.8%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Ipswich?

Ipswich averages 36.6°F in January and 80.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.0 inches with about 51.4 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Ipswich?

Ipswich, MA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 01938.

What is the population of Ipswich?

The population of Ipswich, Massachusetts is 4,872 with a median age of 42.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Ipswich?

Key numbers for living in Ipswich: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $562,300, median household income $95,342, crime index 26 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Ipswich side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.