Compare towns
Lancaster vs Maynard vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Lancaster | Maynard | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
10,712 |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
| Maynard and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Lancaster and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
| Lancaster and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Lowest 21% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Swampscott 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Maynard | Swampscott |
| High school in town | None in town | Maynard High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.