Compare towns
Maynard vs Stow vs Townsend 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 shortest commute (32 min average).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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.
| Measure | Maynard | Stow | Townsend | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
7,165Lowest |
9,100 |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Townsend 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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 19% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Nashoba | North Middlesex | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
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.