Compare towns
Maynard vs Meredith 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
Maynard has the most renters (25% rent).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k median).
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 | Meredith | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712 |
6,758Lowest |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 165% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swampscott and Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Swampscott and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Inter-Lakes High School | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.1 |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.