Compare towns
Maynard vs Brewer 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Brewer | Swampscott | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
9,652 |
15,277Highest |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Maynard and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Brewer 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% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer and Swampscott 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. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Stow 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. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 165% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% 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%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Swampscott 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #76 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Brewer Public Schools | Swampscott | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Brewer High School | Swampscott High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
14.0Highest |
11.7 |
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| 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.