Compare towns
Maynard vs Ogunquit vs Swampscott vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Swampscott has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Ogunquit | Swampscott | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
1,379Lowest |
15,277Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Swampscott and Ogunquit 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 54% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 59% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41k 132% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
— | $2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 165% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Stow 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 | — | #76 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Swampscott | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | — | Swampscott High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.