Compare towns
Ipswich vs Ogunquit vs Swampscott vs Essex
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 most affordable homes ($745k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Swampscott has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Essex has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
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 | Ogunquit | Swampscott | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
1,379Lowest |
15,277Highest |
3,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45±3.4 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
69%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest 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±$16k 72% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
$157,147±$24kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Essex and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $745,400±$40kLowest 124% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41k 132% above U.S. |
$897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
| Essex and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 13% above U.S. |
— | $2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
$1,964±$238 39% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 155% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±23.1 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±7 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 | — | #76 of 282 in MA | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | — | Swampscott | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | — | Swampscott High | None in town |
| 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.