Compare towns
Maynard vs Rowley vs Acton 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).
Rowley has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Swampscott has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Rowley | Acton | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
6,251Lowest |
24,155Highest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
| Rowley 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% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton 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 MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Rowley 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% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Rowley 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 |
$132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Acton and Swampscott 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 |
$667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
| Acton and Swampscott 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 |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,936Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 3% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Triton | Acton-Boxborough | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
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.