Compare towns
Marblehead vs Salem vs Woonsocket 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).
Salem has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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 | Salem | Woonsocket | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413 |
44,795Highest |
43,521 |
15,277Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marblehead and Swampscott 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% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Swampscott 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. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$771,100±$41k 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swampscott and Salem 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Highest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marblehead and Swampscott 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Salem | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | Salem High | Woonsocket High School | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
9.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.