Compare towns

Erving 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

Erving has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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.

MeasureErvingMaynardSwampscott
People
Population
1,703Lowest
10,712
15,277Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-7.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
43.3±2.4Lowest
8% above MA
45.3±4.3Highest
13% above MA
44.5±3.5
11% above MA
Maynard and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±4.3
MA: 19.4%
20.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±2.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±3.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±2.6
MA: 17.9%
Erving and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
64.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
62.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,656±$9kLowest
25% below MA
$124,067±$16k
19% above MA
$134,386±$23kHighest
29% above MA
Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,800±$20kLowest
52% below MA
$527,400±$31k
6% below MA
$771,100±$41kHighest
37% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,163±$213Lowest
34% below MA
$1,800±$148
about the MA average
$2,303±$143Highest
31% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$1,870Lowest
69% below MA
$8,266Highest
38% above MA
$7,936
32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.5%±23
MA: 51.8%
44.9%±9.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57%±14.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
Swampscott and Erving are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.3%Highest
MA: 10%
7.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
75%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75.9%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957
7 yrs older than MA
1963Highest
1 yr older than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
4% below MA
32 min
9% above MA
34 minHighest
18% above MA
Work from home
3.6%±2Lowest
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 — #166 of 282 in MA #76 of 282 in MA
School district Erving — Swampscott
High school in town None in town — Swampscott High
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.