Compare towns
Erving vs Maynard vs Swampscott vs Gill
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%).
Gill has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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.
| Measure | Erving | Maynard | Swampscott | Gill |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
10,712 |
15,277Highest |
1,740 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.4% 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 |
43.8±2.6 9% 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% |
19%±8.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Gill 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% |
21.1%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Erving and Gill 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% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Gill and Swampscott 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 |
$90,208±$14k 13% below 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 |
$340,100±$17k 39% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,193±$246 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$4,318 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
62.7%±10.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Gill and Swampscott 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
21 minLowest 29% below MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±8 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 | Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.