Compare towns
Gray vs Maynard vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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.
| Measure | Gray | Maynard | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,429Lowest |
10,712 |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
| Maynard and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swampscott and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swampscott and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$8,266Highest 165% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swampscott and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #166 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Maynard | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Maynard High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
9.7Lowest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.