Compare towns
Foxborough vs Swampscott vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Foxborough has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k median).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
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 | Foxborough | Swampscott | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,615 |
15,277Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 6% above MA |
44.5±3.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Swampscott and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,833±$9kLowest 11% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
| Walpole and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $606,300±$28kLowest 8% above MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,843±$70Lowest 5% above MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
| Swampscott and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,275Lowest 21% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±13.7 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole and Swampscott 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 | #138 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Foxborough | Swampscott | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Foxborough High | Swampscott High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.