Compare towns
Ashland vs Ogunquit vs Grafton vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($525k median).
Swampscott has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Ogunquit | Grafton | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,873 |
1,379Lowest |
19,902Highest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±1.4 8% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.1±1.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Grafton 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±$11k 58% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$131,484±$11k 63% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$525,300±$37kLowest 58% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41k 132% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
— | $1,504±$169Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$2,303±$143 63% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,444 139% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,117 128% above U.S. |
$7,936Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Swampscott 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 | — | #67 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ashland | — | Grafton | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Ashland High | — | Grafton High School | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.0Highest |
— | 12.9 |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.