Compare towns
Marblehead vs Ogunquit vs Acton 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
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Acton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Swampscott has the most affordable homes ($771k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Acton | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413 |
1,379Lowest |
24,155Highest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Swampscott 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41kLowest 132% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S. |
— | $1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 166% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Acton 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 | — | #13 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | — | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.