What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has the shortest commute (28 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Burlington	Swampscott
People
Population	26,274Highest	15,277Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA	44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA
	Burlington and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Swampscott and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Burlington and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Swampscott and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA	$134,386±$23kLowest 29% above MA
	Burlington and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$740,600±$35kLowest 32% above MA	$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA
	Swampscott and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA	$2,303±$143Lowest 31% above MA
	Burlington and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,165Lowest about the MA average	$7,936Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Swampscott and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.9%Lowest MA: 10%	7.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Swampscott and Burlington 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	#83 of 282 in MA	#76 of 282 in MA
School district	Burlington	Swampscott
High school in town	Burlington High	Swampscott High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.