Compare towns
Marshfield vs Swampscott vs Chelmsford
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 oldest population (median age 45.9).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Chelmsford has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Marshfield | Swampscott | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,879 |
15,277Lowest |
36,446Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
41.6±1.9Lowest 4% above MA |
| Marshfield and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chelmsford and Swampscott 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% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±1.5Lowest 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% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.3%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Chelmsford and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,986±$8kLowest 21% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$140,629±$8kHighest 35% above MA |
| Chelmsford and Swampscott 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 |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$593,700±$17kLowest 6% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,772±$123Lowest about the MA average |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$2,062±$151 17% above MA |
| Swampscott and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,656Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$8,047Highest 34% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±10.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±10Lowest 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.8% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 24.8%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±2.3Lowest 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 | #76 of 282 in MA | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marshfield | Swampscott | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Marshfield High | Swampscott High | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
11.7 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.