Compare towns
Ipswich vs Rye 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 most affordable homes ($745k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
5,611Lowest |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swampscott and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 72% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23kLowest 66% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41k 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$90Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Highest 155% above U.S. |
$7,519Lowest 141% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Rye School District | 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 |
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.