Compare towns
Maynard vs Buzzards Bay vs Hadley vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buzzards Bay has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Buzzards Bay | Hadley | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
2,909Lowest |
5,306 |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Buzzards Bay 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% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest 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% |
32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Buzzards Bay 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% |
29.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3% MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Buzzards Bay 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 |
$94,388±$12kLowest 9% below MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% 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 |
$454,500±$28kLowest 19% below MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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% |
7.3% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4 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 | — | #116 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | — | Hadley | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | — | Hopkins Academy | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
— | 7.3Lowest |
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.