Compare towns
Maynard vs Stow vs Windsor 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).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($390k 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 | Windsor | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
7,165 |
1,065Lowest |
15,277Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
44.8±6.4 12% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
| Maynard and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9 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% |
41.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 19% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$115,563±$10kLowest 11% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$389,700±$32kLowest 31% 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±$126Lowest about the MA average |
— | $2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,867Lowest 35% below MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 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% |
21.2%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | #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.