Ipswich MA Real Estate Market Report
Ipswich, MA
Where 400 years of history meets Crane Beach sunsets, legendary clam shacks, and one of the North Shore's most competitive housing markets.
Clams, castles, and colonial charm
Founded in 1634 by John Winthrop the Younger, Ipswich is one of the most historic towns in America — and it wears that history everywhere. With 60 First Period homes (the most in the country), the oldest continuously operating farm in America at Appleton Farms, and a 59-room Gilded Age mansion overlooking the sea at Castle Hill, this is a town where centuries of stories are built right into the landscape.
But Ipswich is far more than a history lesson. Home to roughly 14,000 residents across 32 square miles of beaches, salt marsh, and rolling farmland, it's a place where median household incomes reach $124,000, nearly 60% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the median age of 48 reflects a community of established professionals drawn to the quality of life only a town like this can offer. And then there are the clams — the Clam Box has been a North Shore pilgrimage since 1935, and if you've never stood in that line on a July afternoon, you haven't done summer right.
It's also a fiercely competitive real estate market. Here's what the data shows.
A market that keeps getting tighter
Twelve-month listing and sales volume from 2015 through early 2026. While listing volume has fluctuated, active inventory has cratered — leaving buyers competing for fewer and fewer homes.
In 2015, there were 28 active single-family listings in Ipswich. Today there are just 9. That's a 68% drop in available inventory — while sale prices have climbed 82%.
With roughly 1 month of supply, Ipswich is one of the most inventory-starved markets on the North Shore — a dynamic that shows no signs of easing.
Where has pricing landed?
Average sale prices and price-per-square-foot for year-to-date single-family closings, 2022 through 2026.
The inventory picture
Active listing inventory (Feb 26) alongside months supply. Under 6 months favors sellers; under 3 signals acute competition. Ipswich has been under 2 months since 2020.
How fast are homes moving?
Average days to offer for year-to-date closings. In the hottest years, homes went under agreement in under a month.
Why we love serving Ipswich
Ipswich is one of those rare New England towns that has everything — world-class beaches at Crane Beach, a 2,100-acre estate with Italian gardens and a Gatsby-era mansion, the oldest working farm in America, a wolf sanctuary, two breweries, and a fried clam tradition that draws people from hundreds of miles away. It's a place where you can kayak through salt marshes in the morning, tour a 17th-century home at lunch, and watch the sunset from Castle Hill in the evening.
The real estate here reflects the quality of life: homes are treasured, inventory is scarce, and the market rewards sellers who are well-prepared. Whether you're looking to buy into this extraordinary community or thinking about listing a property you've loved for years, we bring the local knowledge and market expertise this town deserves.
Recently sold in Ipswich
The latest single-family, condo, and townhouse sales in the 01938 zip code.
Ready to make your move?
Greater Newburyport's #1 real estate team, 7 years running. We'd love to help you explore Ipswich and the North Shore.
