Compare towns
Marblehead vs Nahant vs Hingham 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 most homeowners (85.2%).
Nahant has the oldest population (median age 60.7).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Swampscott has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Nahant | Hingham | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413 |
3,325Lowest |
24,283Highest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2 23% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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% |
36.2%±6.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$112,762±$6kLowest 8% above MA |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$748,800±$99kLowest 33% above MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
| Hingham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 39% above MA |
$6,615Lowest 10% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 10% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Hingham 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 | #129 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Nahant | Hingham | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | None in town | Hingham High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.9Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.