Compare towns
Bedford vs Webster vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has the highest household income ($172k).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | Bedford | Webster | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727Lowest |
17,748Highest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
44.5±3.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Swampscott and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Bedford and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,400±$23kHighest 66% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Bedford and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $898,500±$43kHighest 60% above MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
| Bedford and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Bedford 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 | #7 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Webster | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Bartlett High School | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
11.6 |
11.7Highest |
| 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.