Compare towns
Maynard vs Stow vs Webster 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).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k 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 | Webster | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
7,165 |
2,227Lowest |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Lowest 13% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
| Maynard and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swampscott and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Swampscott and Stow 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. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| 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 27% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 165% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Nashoba | Merrimack Valley School District | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | None in town | 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 |
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.