Compare towns
Maynard vs Mashpee 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
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Mashpee has the oldest population (median age 55.9).
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 | Mashpee | Swampscott | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
15,384Highest |
15,277 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
55.9±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest 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% |
33.1%±2.9Highest 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% |
44.3%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% |
4.5%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Mashpee 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 |
$95,299±$13kLowest 8% below MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$562,200±$29k about the MA average |
$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 |
$1,776±$330Lowest about the MA average |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$3,762Lowest 37% below MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±14.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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 MA: 10% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.9% MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
27 minLowest 6% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3Lowest 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 | #100 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Mashpee | Swampscott | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Mashpee Middle-High School | Swampscott High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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| 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.