Compare towns
Maynard vs Chatham vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Chatham has the oldest population (median age 63.4).
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 | Maynard | Chatham | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712 |
6,681Lowest |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
63.4±2.8Highest 59% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
8.9%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
45.5%±5.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$85,167±$9kLowest 18% below MA |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$942,800±$78kHighest 68% above MA |
$771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,485±$209Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,094Lowest 32% below MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.7%±21.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Chatham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
24 minLowest 18% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.5%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Chatham 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #130 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Monomoy Regional School District | Swampscott |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.