Compare towns
Barre vs Maynard vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Maynard has the shortest commute (32 min average).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Barre | Maynard | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
10,712 |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
| Maynard and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kLowest 4% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55kLowest 30% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Lowest 14% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Maynard | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Maynard High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.7Lowest |
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.