Compare towns
Maynard vs Webster vs Whitman 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).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Whitman has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Webster | Whitman | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,712Lowest |
17,748Highest |
15,295 |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
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% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
62.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Whitman 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,771±$151 about the MA average |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$7,936 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Maynard | Webster | Whitman-Hanson | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Maynard High | Bartlett High School | None in town | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.7Lowest |
11.6 |
— | 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.