Compare towns
Ipswich vs Ogunquit vs Swampscott vs Rowley
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Swampscott has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Rowley has the most affordable homes ($667k median).
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 | Rowley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
1,379Lowest |
15,277Highest |
6,251 |
| 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% |
+5.2% 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. |
50±6.3 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Swampscott and Rowley 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%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Rowley 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 72% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
$132,734±$32k 64% 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41k 132% above U.S. |
$667,300±$52kLowest 101% 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±$90Lowest 13% above U.S. |
— | $2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
$1,603±$520 13% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 155% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% 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%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rowley and Swampscott 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest 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% |
81.7% 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. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±4Lowest 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 | #214 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | — | Swampscott | Triton |
| 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.