Compare towns
Maynard vs Mendon vs Swampscott vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 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 | Maynard | Mendon | Swampscott | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
6,325 |
15,277Highest |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
| Hadley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.8%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Mendon 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 |
$132,256±$33k 27% above MA |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
| Swampscott and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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 | #210 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Mendon-Upton | Swampscott | Hadley |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Swampscott High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7Highest |
7.3Lowest |
| 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.