Compare towns
Fairhaven vs Swampscott vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairhaven has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Fairhaven | Swampscott | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,903 |
15,277Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% 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%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Swampscott 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%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
36.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Northbridge 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 |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Swampscott and Northbridge 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 |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Northbridge 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% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #126 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fairhaven | Swampscott | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Fairhaven High | Swampscott High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.7Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.