Compare towns
Ipswich vs New Gloucester vs Ogunquit 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
Ipswich has the highest household income ($139k).
New Gloucester has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Swampscott has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | New Gloucester | Ogunquit | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
5,766 |
1,379Lowest |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Swampscott and Ogunquit 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 72% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
| 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 124% above U.S. |
$357,100±$29kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41k 132% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90 13% above U.S. |
$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Highest 155% above U.S. |
$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swampscott and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | #65 of 133 in ME | — | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | — | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | None in town | — | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | — | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.