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Ipswich, MassachusettsPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Town Hall · Ipswich

In Ipswich, 85% of adult citizens voted for president in 2024, more than across Massachusetts

Ipswich’s town government spent $62 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, about $4,398 per resident. Water and other utilities ($21.1 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Tomorrow

General election in Massachusetts.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2022
$62.0M
year to June 30, 2022
Per resident, 2022
$4,398
In 2022: $4,398, less than 53% of 75 similar towns
Long-term debt
$26.7M
end of FY2022, reported
Town staff, 2022
432
full-time · 129 part-time · March payroll $3.0M · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$7,960
1.07% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Ipswich is run

Read from the town’s budget and official records.

The school district

Ipswich School District

Ipswich’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Ipswich, so this money is part of the budget above.

Schools in Ipswich →
$27,216
per pupil · MA $26,530
1,604
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $27,216 per pupil, $16,781 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 74%State 21%Federal 5%

Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Your share of the 2022 budget

About $4,398 per resident a year, or $12.05 a day

Schools are part of the town’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 60% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 52%Utility sales 27%From the state 8%Interest, fines & other 4%Fees & charges 4%From the federal government 2%Other taxes & licenses 1%From other local governments <1%Sales taxes <1%
Schools included

Ipswich runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $5.8 million; interest on debt $859,000; payments to other governments $1.2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $91 million.
Compared with similar places

$4,398 per resident in 2022, close to the middle of similar towns

Ipswich’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,398 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 75 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,576, and the middle half spent $3,716–$5,278. Ipswich spent less than 53% of them.

Middle half of the group, $3,716–$5,278Median $4,576Ipswich

Includes sewer and trash ($2.8 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
75

Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Ipswich itself left out).

Over the years

No trend yet

Ipswich reported only 2022 to the Census Bureau, so there is no trend yet.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $7,960 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 1.07% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Essex$10,000+
Hamilton$10,000+
Topsfield$10,000+
Boxford$10,000+
Rowley$8,309
Ipswich$7,960
Gloucester$6,152
Massachusetts$5,992
$7,960
typical bill a year
1.07%
effective rate
$745,400
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Ipswich’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Ipswich’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Ipswich →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Ipswich

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See town.ipswich.ma.us for Ipswich’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Ipswich yet.town.ipswich.ma.us ↗
Agendas

Ipswich’s meeting calendar isn’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on town.ipswich.ma.us ↗.

Who works for Ipswich

One full-time town employee for every 33 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2022 finance file (14,091).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Schools303 + 111 pt
Police30 + 1 pt
Water & other utilities20
Administration & buildings18 + 3 pt
Fire18
Parks & libraries9 + 8 pt
Roads & transportation8
Sewer & trash5
Health & welfare2 + 1 pt
Other19 + 5 pt
432
full-time
129
part-time
$3.0M
payroll for March 2022
$36.0M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$77,300
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
25
sworn police officers
18
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Ipswich didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Ipswich voted in 2024

Official results for Ipswich’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President9,504 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat63.7%6,055 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican33.5%3,185 votes

Others: 2.8% (264 votes).

Most votes in Ipswich: Kamala D Harris

Essex County: Harris 58.9%, Trump 38.7% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
85%

of Ipswich’s 11,180 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate9,431 votes
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat59.4%
John DeatonRepublican40.5%
Others0.1%

Most votes in Ipswich: Elizabeth Ann Warren

Essex County: Warren 57.8%, Deaton 42.0% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%

U.S. House · Massachusetts’s 6th District328,377 votes
Seth W MoultonDemocrat97.8%
All Others2.2%

Most votes in the district: Seth W Moulton

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Ipswich, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Ipswich63.7%33.5%2.8%9,504
Essex County58.9%38.7%2.5%401,851
Massachusetts61.2%36.0%2.8%3,473,668
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Ipswich

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Ipswich.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your townTown government
  2. 2
    Massachusetts HouseState representatives
  3. 3
    Massachusetts SenateState senator
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Ipswich compares with the towns next door

Ipswich spent $4,398 per resident in 2022; the 6 neighbors that reported 2022 spent $1,175 to $4,904. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.

Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Rowley$1,175$8,309
Hamilton$1,286$10,000+
Boxford$3,370 runs schools$10,000+
Topsfield$3,702 runs schools$10,000+
Gloucester$4,376 runs schools$6,152
Essex$4,904 runs schools$10,000+
Ipswich$4,398$7,960

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Ipswich’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →

Questions about Ipswich’s government

How much does Ipswich spend per resident?

About $4,398 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2022, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $4,398 was less than 53% of 75 Massachusetts towns and townships of 10,000–24,999 that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Ipswich?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $7,960 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 1.07% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see town.ipswich.ma.us.

Who runs Ipswich’s government?

See town.ipswich.ma.us for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Ipswich yet.

How did Ipswich vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 63.7%, Donald J Trump 33.5% (9,504 votes, official results). Essex County: Harris 58.9%, Trump 38.7%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Ipswich?

432 full-time and 129 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $3.0M (about $36.0M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Ipswich in the state legislature?

State Senate District First Essex and Middlesex (Bruce Tarr) and State House District 2nd Essex (Kristin Kassner). The House district also covers five other towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

Ask neighbors about Ipswich’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →