Compare towns
Maynard vs Norfolk vs Upton 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).
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Norfolk | Upton | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
11,673 |
8,189Lowest |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
| Upton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Upton 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% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Norfolk and Upton 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 |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
| Swampscott and Norfolk 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 |
$2,019±$598 15% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Swampscott and Norfolk 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 |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$7,936Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk 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% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
86.7% MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Norfolk 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 | #123 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | King Philip · Millis | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 11.2 |
11.7Highest |
| 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.