Chatham, MA vs Ipswich, MA

The cost of living difference between Chatham, MA and Ipswich, MA is dramatic. Ipswich is 48.5% cheaper than Chatham, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Chatham has a cost index of 192 while Ipswich sits at 130, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Chatham is $924/month compared to $1,456/month in Ipswich — a 37% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Chatham has cheaper rent, Ipswich actually has lower median home values ($570,500 vs $1,550,000).

Median household income in Chatham is $82,269 compared to $92,969 in Ipswich (-11.5%). Ipswich offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Chatham spend roughly 13.5% of their income on rent, less than the 18.8% in Ipswich.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.9°F vs 49.9°F). Chatham receives more rainfall at 45.2" per year compared to 44.9" in Ipswich.