Compare towns
Maynard vs Gorham vs Ipswich vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Gorham | Ipswich | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
18,300Highest |
13,930 |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.2±3.5Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
| Ipswich 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% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ipswich 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% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$138,750±$16kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
| 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 59% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$745,400±$40k 124% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| 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 27% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,598±$90Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 165% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$7,960 155% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±12.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Highest 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #101 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Gorham Public Schools | Ipswich | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Gorham High School | Ipswich High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
12.9Highest |
9.0Lowest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.