Compare towns
Ashland vs Douglas vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ashland | Douglas | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,873Highest |
9,207Lowest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
44±2.6 10% above MA |
44.5±3.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Swampscott and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Douglas and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
| Ashland and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 24% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$7,936Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
34 minLowest 16% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | Douglas | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Ashland High | Douglas High School | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
7.2Lowest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.