Compare towns
Maynard vs Thompson vs Upton vs Swampscott
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 renters (25% rent).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k median).
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 | Thompson | Upton | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
9,337 |
8,189Lowest |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson and Upton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
| Upton and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344 28% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 165% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swampscott and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #46 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Thompson School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Swampscott |
| High school in town | — | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Blackstone Valley | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.2 |
11.7Highest |
| 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.