Compare towns
Ipswich vs Swampscott vs Ware
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 oldest population (median age 47.2).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Swampscott | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 13,930 |
15,277Highest |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
| Ipswich and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Ware 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%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Ware 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below 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±$90 9% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Swampscott | Ware |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Swampscott High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.