Compare towns
Marblehead vs Marblehead vs Reading 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
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k 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.
| Measure | Marblehead | Marblehead | Reading | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413Highest |
20,413Highest |
699Lowest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2 26% above U.S. |
49.1±2 26% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest 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. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41k 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | — | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Marblehead | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Swampscott |
| High school in town | — | Marblehead High | None in town | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.