Compare towns
Lenox vs Swampscott vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lenox has the most affordable homes ($467k median).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Nahant has the most homeowners (78.9%).
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 | Lenox | Swampscott | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079 |
15,277Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3 50% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Nahant and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
| Swampscott and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
| Swampscott and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 22% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Nahant 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Swampscott | Nahant |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Swampscott High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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| 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.