Compare towns

Maynard vs Rye 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 most affordable homes ($527k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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.

MeasureMaynardRyeSwampscott
People
Population
10,712
5,611Lowest
15,277Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±4.3
16% above U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
44.5±3.5Lowest
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.9%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Swampscott and Rye 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%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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
54% above U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
$134,386±$23k
66% above U.S.
Rye 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
59% above U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
$771,100±$41k
132% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,800±$148
27% above U.S.
$1,781±$156Lowest
26% above U.S.
$2,303±$143Highest
63% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,266Highest
165% above U.S.
$7,519Lowest
141% above U.S.
$7,936
154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.9%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57%±14.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 min
20% above U.S.
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
Work from home
22.9%±7.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
27.2%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Rye 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 #2 of 120 in NH #76 of 282 in MA
School district Maynard Rye School District Swampscott
High school in town Maynard High None in town Swampscott High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.7Lowest
—
11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.