Compare towns
Maynard vs Bourne 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
Bourne has the oldest population (median age 52).
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 | Bourne | Swampscott | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
20,323Highest |
15,277 |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Bourne and Hadley 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% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bourne and Hadley 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%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% |
6.6%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Bourne 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 |
$91,058±$7kLowest 12% below MA |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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 |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne 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% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
75.8% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 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 |
26 min 11% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Swampscott | Hadley |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Swampscott High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.8 |
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.