Compare towns
Maynard vs Saco vs Windham 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).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Saco | Windham | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
20,819Highest |
19,188 |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
| Maynard and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swampscott and Windham 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% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swampscott and Saco 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% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco 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. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% 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. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 27% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 165% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swampscott and Saco 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Saco Public Schools | RSU 14 | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | Windham High School | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.