Compare towns
Maynard vs Georgetown vs Swampscott vs Stow
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).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Georgetown | Swampscott | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
8,474 |
15,277Highest |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
42.8±3.5Lowest 7% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Maynard and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.5%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Georgetown and Stow 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% |
18.5%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% MA: 47.3% |
56.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$151,595±$23k 46% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Stow and Georgetown 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 |
$651,200±$23k 16% above MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Swampscott and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,223±$506 26% above MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
| Swampscott and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$7,272Lowest 21% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.7%±22.5 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84% MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest 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 |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Georgetown | Swampscott | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | Georgetown High School | Swampscott High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.