Compare towns
Maynard vs Dedham vs Needham 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).
Dedham has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Swampscott has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Dedham | Needham | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
25,237 |
32,459Highest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
| Maynard and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Needham 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 |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
| Needham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Dedham 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | — | Needham | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | — | Needham High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.