Compare towns
Maynard vs Swampscott vs Ashland
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).
Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k median).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Swampscott | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
15,277 |
18,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
42.1±1.4Lowest 5% 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% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Ashland 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% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Ashland 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 |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
$127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
| Swampscott and Ashland 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 |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
$2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Ashland and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
$7,444Lowest 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Ashland 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% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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 | #76 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Swampscott | Ashland |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Swampscott High | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.7 |
14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.