Compare towns
Ipswich vs Hingham 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Swampscott has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Hingham | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930Lowest |
24,283Highest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Hingham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$134,386±$23kLowest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40kLowest 33% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
| Hingham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 33% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,936Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Hingham | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Hingham High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
12.9Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.