Compare towns
Maynard vs Milton vs Reading 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).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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.
| Measure | Maynard | Milton | Reading | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
28,587Highest |
25,612 |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% 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% |
25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Milton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% MA: 47.3% |
71.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Milton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$933,200±$31kHighest 66% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Swampscott and Reading 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 |
$9,677Highest 61% above MA |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$7,936Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±20.9 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Milton 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% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.7%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Reading and Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Milton | Reading | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Milton High | Reading Memorial High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
12.4Highest |
12.1 |
11.7 |
| 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.