Compare towns

Marblehead vs Hampton Falls vs Swampscott

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Hampton Falls has the shortest commute (32 min average).
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.

MeasureMarbleheadHampton FallsSwampscott
People
Population
20,413Highest
2,328Lowest
15,277
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±2
26% above U.S.
49.5±7.3Highest
27% above U.S.
44.5±3.5Lowest
14% above U.S.
Hampton Falls and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.3%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
Marblehead and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.7%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton Falls and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Swampscott and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$182,132±$28kHighest
126% above U.S.
$166,157±$14k
106% above U.S.
$134,386±$23kLowest
66% above U.S.
Marblehead and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$943,900±$31kHighest
184% above U.S.
$772,600±$76k
132% above U.S.
$771,100±$41kLowest
132% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,764±$147Lowest
25% above U.S.
$1,852±$475
31% above U.S.
$2,303±$143Highest
63% above U.S.
Swampscott and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,309
166% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,936Lowest
154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.5%±8.8
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57%±14.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Swampscott and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
25% above U.S.
32 minLowest
22% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
34%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.2%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Marblehead 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 #47 of 282 in MA — #76 of 282 in MA
School district — Hampton Falls School District —
High school in town — None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.