Compare towns

Maynard vs Concord vs Swampscott

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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.

MeasureMaynardConcordSwampscott
People
Population
10,712Lowest
18,223Highest
15,277
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
+4.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3
13% above MA
47.6±2Highest
19% above MA
44.5±3.5Lowest
11% above MA
Concord and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.6%±2.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.1%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
Concord 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
MA: 17.9%
23.7%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±2.6
MA: 17.9%
Concord 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%
MA: 47.3%
79.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
62.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.7
MA: 7.9%
Concord 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±$16kLowest
19% above MA
$195,350±$22kHighest
88% above MA
$134,386±$23k
29% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$527,400±$31kLowest
6% below MA
$1,210,000±$72kHighest
115% above MA
$771,100±$41k
37% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148Lowest
about the MA average
$2,631±$166Highest
49% above MA
$2,303±$143
31% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,266
38% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$7,936Lowest
32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
53.2%±10.5
MA: 51.8%
57%±14.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
Swampscott and Concord 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%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75.7%
MA: 62.5%
75.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1969Highest
5 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
9% above MA
32 min
11% above MA
34 minHighest
18% above MA
Work from home
22.9%±7.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
36.1%±4.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
27.2%±4.6
MA: 18.6%
Concord 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 #10 of 282 in MA #76 of 282 in MA
School district Maynard Concord · Concord-Carlisle Swampscott
High school in town Maynard High Concord Carlisle High Swampscott High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Lowest
11.4
11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.