Compare towns
Maynard vs Exeter vs Swampscott vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k median).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Exeter | Swampscott | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
16,151 |
15,277 |
18,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 54% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11k 58% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18k 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,303±$143 63% above U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 165% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
$7,444Lowest 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #76 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Swampscott | Ashland |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Exeter High School | Swampscott High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
12.1 |
11.7 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.