Compare towns
Maynard vs Putnam vs Thompson 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
Putnam has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Thompson has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Putnam | Thompson | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
9,292Lowest |
9,337 |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
43.7±3Lowest 12% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swampscott and Putnam 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% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Swampscott and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18k 16% 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. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 165% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swampscott and Thompson 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% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #130 of 149 in CT | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Putnam School District | Thompson School District | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Putnam High School | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7 |
9.5 |
7.9Lowest |
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.