Compare towns
Ipswich vs Upton vs Swampscott vs Maynard
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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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 | Upton | Swampscott | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,930 |
8,189Lowest |
15,277Highest |
10,712 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% 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 |
45.3±4.3 13% 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% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest 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%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Upton 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest 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% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 33% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
| Upton 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±$40k 33% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,960 33% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,936Lowest 32% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
| 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% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
32 min 9% above 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% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ipswich | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Swampscott | Maynard |
| High school in town | Ipswich High | Blackstone Valley | Swampscott High | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.2 |
11.7Highest |
9.7 |
| 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.