Compare towns
Marblehead vs Fall River vs Marblehead vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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 | Fall River | Marblehead | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413 |
94,082Highest |
20,413 |
15,277Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Fall River 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 |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Fall River 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1955Highest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | — | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | B M C Durfee High | — | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.3 |
— | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.