Compare towns
Maynard vs Plainfield vs Stow 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Plainfield | Stow | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
15,141 |
7,165Lowest |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swampscott and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Swampscott 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. |
$76,993±$8kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| 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 27% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 165% above U.S. |
$4,209Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #44 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Plainfield School District | Nashoba | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Plainfield High School | None in town | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.3 |
— | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.