Compare towns
Millbury vs Sutton vs Swampscott vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millbury has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Millbury | Sutton | Swampscott | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 13,961 |
9,452Lowest |
15,277 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.5±3.5Highest 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
| Swampscott and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Millbury and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,790±$13k 14% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
| Sutton and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,623±$232 8% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,406 10% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.8%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Sutton 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 | #202 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millbury | Sutton | Swampscott | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Millbury Junior/Senior High | Sutton High School | Swampscott High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.6 |
11.7 |
14.6Highest |
| 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.