Compare towns

Maynard vs Medfield vs Swampscott

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).
Medfield has the highest household income ($236k).
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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.

MeasureMaynardMedfieldSwampscott
People
Population
10,712Lowest
13,068
15,277Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.4%
MA: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3Highest
13% above MA
42.4±3Lowest
6% above MA
44.5±3.5
11% above MA
Maynard and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.9%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
28.2%±4Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.1%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
18.2%±3.3
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±2.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.4%±2.6Highest
MA: 17.9%
Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.2%
MA: 47.3%
78.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
62.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
2.7%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,067±$16kLowest
19% above MA
$235,800±$32kHighest
127% above MA
$134,386±$23k
29% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$527,400±$31kLowest
6% below MA
$911,100±$32kHighest
62% above MA
$771,100±$41k
37% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148Lowest
about the MA average
$2,035±$559
15% above MA
$2,303±$143Highest
31% above MA
Swampscott and Medfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,266
38% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$7,936Lowest
32% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
63.1%±20.9Highest
MA: 51.8%
57%±14.2
MA: 51.8%
Medfield 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%
2.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.1%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
75.9%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
1 yr older than MA
1970Highest
6 yrs newer than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minLowest
9% above MA
32 minLowest
9% above MA
34 minHighest
18% above MA
Work from home
22.9%±7.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
36.6%±4.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
27.2%±4.6
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #166 of 282 in MA #26 of 282 in MA #76 of 282 in MA
School district Maynard Medfield Swampscott
High school in town Maynard High Medfield Senior High Swampscott High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Lowest
12.7Highest
11.7
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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.