Compare towns

Devens vs Swampscott vs Millville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Devens has the highest household income ($189k).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Millville has the most affordable homes ($445k median).

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.

MeasureDevensSwampscottMillville
People
Population
1,723Lowest
15,277Highest
3,160
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-0.5%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
48.6±4.3Highest
22% above MA
44.5±3.5Lowest
11% above MA
46±2.2
15% above MA
Devens and Millville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
5.5%±3.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.7%±3.5
MA: 19.4%
Swampscott and Millville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14%±5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.8%±5.4
MA: 17.9%
Swampscott and Millville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
21.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
62.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
30.6%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±4.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.7
MA: 7.9%
4%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Devens and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$189,250±$63kHighest
82% above MA
$134,386±$23k
29% above MA
$127,188±$32kLowest
22% above MA
Devens and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$556,800±$96k
about the MA average
$771,100±$41kHighest
37% above MA
$444,600±$25kLowest
21% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,500±$539
15% below MA
$2,303±$143Highest
31% above MA
$1,468±$234Lowest
17% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,556
7% below MA
$7,936Highest
32% above MA
$5,327Lowest
11% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
85.4%±64.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
57%±14.2
MA: 51.8%
36.2%±24.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Devens and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.3%Highest
MA: 10%
7.1%
MA: 10%
4.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.3%
MA: 62.5%
75.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
1955
9 yrs older than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% below MA
34 minHighest
18% above MA
32 min
10% above MA
Work from home
28.5%±11.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
27.2%±4.6
MA: 18.6%
11.1%±4Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Devens 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 — #76 of 282 in MA #180 of 282 in MA
School district — Swampscott Blackstone-Millville
High school in town — Swampscott High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
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.