Compare towns

Marshfield vs Maynard vs Swampscott

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marshfield has the most homeowners (80.8%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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.

MeasureMarshfieldMaynardSwampscott
People
Population
25,879Highest
10,712Lowest
15,277
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±2.6Highest
15% above MA
45.3±4.3
13% above MA
44.5±3.5Lowest
11% above MA
Marshfield and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
16.9%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.1%±2.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Swampscott and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.2%±2
MA: 17.9%
18.2%±3.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
Swampscott and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
64.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
62.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Swampscott and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,986±$8k
21% above MA
$124,067±$16kLowest
19% above MA
$134,386±$23kHighest
29% above MA
Swampscott and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$680,300±$27k
21% above MA
$527,400±$31kLowest
6% below MA
$771,100±$41kHighest
37% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,772±$123Lowest
about the MA average
$1,800±$148
about the MA average
$2,303±$143Highest
31% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,656Lowest
11% above MA
$8,266Highest
38% above MA
$7,936
32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.1%±10.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
44.9%±9.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57%±14.2
MA: 51.8%
Marshfield and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.7%Highest
MA: 10%
8.3%
MA: 10%
7.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
75%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75.9%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Highest
4 yrs newer than MA
1963
1 yr older than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
19% above MA
32 minLowest
9% above MA
34 min
18% above MA
Work from home
24.8%±4.3
MA: 18.6%
22.9%±7.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
27.2%±4.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
Swampscott and Marshfield 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 #54 of 282 in MA #166 of 282 in MA #76 of 282 in MA
School district Marshfield Maynard Swampscott
High school in town Marshfield High Maynard High Swampscott High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.0
9.7Lowest
11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.