Compare towns
Maynard vs Stow vs Walpole 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).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Walpole has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Stow | Walpole | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
7,165Lowest |
26,388Highest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest 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±1.2Lowest 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%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Stow 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest 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% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Walpole 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±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Stow and Walpole 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 |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above 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±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Swampscott and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$7,936Lowest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Nashoba | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | Walpole High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
— | 11.3 |
11.7Highest |
| 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.