Compare towns
Everett vs Swampscott vs Maynard vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k median).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k 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.
| Measure | Everett | Swampscott | Maynard | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
15,277 |
10,712Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Maynard and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% 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 | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$429,200±$11kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,625±$40Lowest 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Swampscott | Maynard | Lowell |
| High school in town | Everett High | Swampscott High | Maynard High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.7 |
9.7Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.