Compare towns
Ipswich vs Upton vs Swampscott vs Burlington
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).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Upton | Swampscott | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
8,189Lowest |
15,277 |
26,274Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Ipswich and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
58.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Burlington 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 33% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$134,386±$23kLowest 29% above MA |
$146,436±$14k 41% above MA |
| Upton and Burlington 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 |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$740,600±$35k 32% 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±$90 9% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
| Burlington and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 33% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Swampscott | Burlington |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Blackstone Valley | Swampscott High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.2 |
11.7Highest |
11.3 |
| 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.