Compare towns
Maynard vs Lee vs Swampscott vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Lee | Swampscott | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
5,719Lowest |
15,277Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Lee and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Swampscott 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Swampscott and Stow 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 |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Lee 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Lee | Swampscott | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Lee Middle/High School | Swampscott High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.2Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.