Compare towns
Maynard vs Sudbury vs Ware 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).
Sudbury has the highest household income ($236k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Sudbury | Ware | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
19,306Highest |
10,048Lowest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
42.3±2.1Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above 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% |
28.5%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Swampscott 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% |
83.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$236,250±$17kHighest 127% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$988,900±$42kHighest 76% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,445±$895 18% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
44.8%±12.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
3%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
33%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sudbury 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 | #15 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Lincoln-Sudbury · Sudbury | Ware | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.3 |
11.1 |
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.