Compare towns
Maynard vs Norton 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
Norton has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Norton | Maynard | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
19,240Highest |
10,712Lowest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Norton 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% |
17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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% |
45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$124,535±$11k 20% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
| Swampscott and Norton 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 |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$1,911±$375 8% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Swampscott and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$5,929Lowest about the MA average |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Norton 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% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
33 min 12% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest 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 | #173 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Norton | Maynard | Swampscott |
| High school in town | — | Norton High | Maynard High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
9.7Lowest |
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.