Compare towns
Erving vs Swampscott vs Wales
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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Wales has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Swampscott | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,703Lowest |
15,277Highest |
1,929 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±2.4 8% above MA |
44.5±3.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.3±4.7Lowest 6% above MA |
| Swampscott and Erving 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% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wales and Swampscott 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% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.2%±2Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Wales 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 |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
$89,006±$6k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$296,200±$26k 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,163±$213 34% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$4,534 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.5%±23Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wales and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #76 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Erving | Swampscott | Wales |
| 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 |
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.