What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairhaven has the most affordable homes ($447k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairhaven	Swampscott
People
Population	15,903Highest	15,277Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA	44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA
	Fairhaven and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Swampscott and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Fairhaven and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Swampscott and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA	$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA
	Swampscott and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA	$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA	$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA	$7,936Highest 32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%	57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Swampscott and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest MA: 10%	7.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA	1955Highest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 18% above MA
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#126 of 282 in MA	#76 of 282 in MA
School district	Fairhaven	Swampscott
High school in town	Fairhaven High	Swampscott High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.