Compare towns
Maynard vs Eastham vs Swampscott vs Ipswich
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).
Eastham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.1%).
Swampscott has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Ipswich has the highest household income ($139k).
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 | Eastham | Swampscott | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
5,811Lowest |
15,277Highest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+16.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
60.4±2.5Highest 51% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Ipswich 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% |
40.9%±6Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Ipswich 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 |
$72,992±$8kLowest 30% below MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$732,200±$63k 30% above MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Swampscott and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,747±$101 about the MA average |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,973Lowest 17% below MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
83.8%±77.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Eastham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
87.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%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 |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | #17 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Eastham · Nauset | Swampscott | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Nauset Regional High | Swampscott High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.8 |
11.7Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.