Compare towns
Ipswich vs Swampscott vs Maynard vs Hamilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ipswich has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% 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 | Swampscott | Maynard | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
15,277Highest |
10,712 |
7,600Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
43.5±2.1Lowest 9% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton 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 33% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
| 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 33% above MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
| 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±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 33% above MA |
$7,936Lowest 32% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Hamilton 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Swampscott | Maynard | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Swampscott High | Maynard High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.7 |
9.7 |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.