Ipswich

Median home price: $415,000 single-family; $225,000 condominiums

Residential tax rate: $10.34

Average tax bill: $5,071

Choice location: The new Riverwalk spans the Ipswich River and connects both sides of the town with its commercial center.

Cocktail party nugget: Fifty-eight houses were built prior to 1725, the largest number still standing and occupied in any community in the country.

SOURCES: Warren Group, Town of Ipswich, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and Vernon A. Martin Inc. broker Marilyn Gilbert

THE GOODS: Just 30 miles north of Boston, Ipswich boasts rolling topography, forests, and farmland hugging a highly developed town center. Breathtaking views of the meandering Ipswich River, the Atlantic Ocean, and vast expanses of preserved and protected lands where recreational opportunities abound year-round. This quiet town offers winter snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, summer kayaking, and numerous walking trails. In addition to Crane Beach, nature lovers can delight in the Willowdale State Forest, the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, and the Sandy Point State Reservation.

PROS: The Atlantic Ocean defines the town's eastern border, and roughly one-third of the town's land is protected saltmarsh and estuaries. These natural elements help to define the town, ensuring the preservation of its open space and scenic views. Housing runs the gamut. The in-town area offers opportunities for first-time buyers, where a two-bedroom condominium can run about $200,000. Older homes along Argilla Road offer marsh views, while those on Great Neck have sweeping ocean views. Expect to pay about $350,000 for a three-bedroom, two-bath home in need of work. Big period homes and newer contemporaries can sell in the high $700,000s, and above.

CONS: Despite raising property taxes recently, the town still faces a squeeze on its schools, with a spending freeze and even layoffs possible in the future. Town officials are also struggling to devise a safety plan for commuter rail crossings so trains do not have to sound their loud whistles.

BRENDA J. BUOTE