Compare towns

Danvers 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

Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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.

MeasureDanversMaynardSwampscott
People
Population
28,098Highest
10,712Lowest
15,277
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3Highest
13% above MA
45.3±4.3Highest
13% above MA
44.5±3.5Lowest
11% above MA
Kids under 18
17.2%±2
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Swampscott and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±3.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±2.6
MA: 17.9%
Danvers and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
64.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
62.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Swampscott and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,395±$10k
21% above MA
$124,067±$16kLowest
19% above MA
$134,386±$23kHighest
29% above MA
Swampscott and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23k
15% above MA
$527,400±$31kLowest
6% below MA
$771,100±$41kHighest
37% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192
18% above MA
$1,800±$148Lowest
about the MA average
$2,303±$143Highest
31% above MA
Swampscott and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654Lowest
11% above MA
$8,266Highest
38% above MA
$7,936
32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6
MA: 51.8%
44.9%±9.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57%±14.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
Swampscott and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.3%Highest
MA: 10%
7.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75%
MA: 62.5%
75.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Highest
1 yr older than MA
1963Highest
1 yr older than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
32 min
9% above MA
34 minHighest
18% above MA
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Lowest
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 #91 of 282 in MA #166 of 282 in MA #76 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Maynard Swampscott
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Maynard High Swampscott High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
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.