Compare towns
Ipswich vs Dedham vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k 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.
| Measure | Ipswich | Dedham | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Lowest |
25,237Highest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Ipswich and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% MA: 47.3% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Ipswich and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
| Swampscott and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Swampscott and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Dedham 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | — | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | — | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| 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.