Compare towns
Maynard vs Stow vs Webster 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Webster has the most renters (54.5% rent).
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 | Webster | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
7,165Lowest |
12,228 |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.9% 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 |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
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% |
21.8%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Webster 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% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest 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% |
18.8%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% |
6%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% 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 |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$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% |
46.1%±7.4 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% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Nashoba | — | 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 | 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.