Compare towns

Danvers vs Swampscott vs Upton

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).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).

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.

MeasureDanversSwampscottUpton
People
Population
28,098Highest
15,277
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3
13% above MA
44.5±3.5Lowest
11% above MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
Upton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.1%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Swampscott 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%
20.4%±2.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9
MA: 17.9%
Danvers and Upton 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%
62.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
53.5%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
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±$10kLowest
21% above MA
$134,386±$23k
29% above MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
Upton and Swampscott 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
$771,100±$41kHighest
37% above MA
$576,700±$41kLowest
about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192
18% above MA
$2,303±$143Highest
31% above MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below 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
$7,936
32% above MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57%±14.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
Swampscott and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
MA: 10%
7.1%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75.9%
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
about the MA average
34 min
18% above MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
27.2%±4.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3
MA: 18.6%
Swampscott and Upton 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 #76 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Swampscott Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Swampscott High Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
11.7
11.2Lowest
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.