Compare towns
Maynard vs Wakefield vs Stow 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 most affordable homes ($527k median).
Wakefield has the most renters (29.3% rent).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Wakefield | Stow | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712 |
27,793Highest |
7,165Lowest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
42.4±1.7Lowest 6% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% 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% |
20%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest 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%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 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% |
59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Wakefield 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 |
$134,306±$14k 29% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$723,500±$24k 29% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above 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 |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,782±$126Lowest about the MA average |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266 38% above MA |
$7,779Lowest 30% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest 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% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 1 yr older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 9% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Nashoba | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
10.7 |
— | 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.