Compare towns
Ipswich vs Springfield 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Springfield | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
1,122Lowest |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5 21% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest 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%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ipswich and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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±$16kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kLowest 25% 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. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Ipswich 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. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Highest 155% above U.S. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Swampscott and Ipswich 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 |
| School district | Ipswich | — | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | — | 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.