Compare towns

Marblehead vs Leverett vs Swampscott

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
Leverett has the most affordable homes ($436k median).
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.

MeasureMarbleheadLeverettSwampscott
People
Population
20,413Highest
1,608Lowest
15,277
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
MA: +7.4%
+0.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±2
23% above MA
56±6.4Highest
40% above MA
44.5±3.5Lowest
11% above MA
Leverett 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
MA: 19.4%
13.7%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.1%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
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
MA: 17.9%
34.8%±4.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±2.6Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
67.4%
MA: 47.3%
62.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1
MA: 7.9%
2.1%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
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
75% above MA
$104,688±$18kLowest
about the MA average
$134,386±$23k
29% above MA
Marblehead and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$435,500±$35kLowest
23% below MA
$771,100±$41k
37% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,764±$147
about the MA average
$1,389±$135Lowest
21% below MA
$2,303±$143Highest
31% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$6,779Lowest
13% above MA
$7,936
32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
73.3%±6.3Highest
MA: 51.8%
57%±14.2
MA: 51.8%
Leverett and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
10%Highest
MA: 10%
7.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%
MA: 62.5%
87.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
75.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1973Highest
9 yrs newer than MA
1955
9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
13% above MA
27 minLowest
9% below MA
34 minHighest
18% above MA
Work from home
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
28.5%±5
MA: 18.6%
27.2%±4.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Marblehead and Leverett 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 — Leverett —
High school in town — None in town —
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.