Compare towns
Marblehead vs Hooksett vs Marblehead 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
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Swampscott has the most renters (24.1% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Marblehead | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413Highest |
15,057Lowest |
20,413Highest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41k 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #47 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Hooksett School District | — | 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.