Compare towns
Maynard vs Easthampton vs Ipswich vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Ipswich has the highest household income ($139k).
Swampscott has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Easthampton | Ipswich | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
16,086Highest |
13,930 |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
— | +4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
46±2.6 15% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Ipswich and Easthampton 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% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest 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% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Ipswich 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% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton 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 19% above MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% 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±$31k 6% below MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% 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 |
$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,932Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Ipswich 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% |
8% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Easthampton | Ipswich | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Easthampton High | Ipswich High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.8 |
9.0Lowest |
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.