Compare towns
Newburyport vs Ogunquit vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newburyport has the highest household income ($140k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Swampscott has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Newburyport | Ogunquit | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,652Highest |
1,379Lowest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.8±2.9 28% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swampscott and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Swampscott and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $139,625±$21kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
| Newburyport and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $834,000±$37k 151% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41kLowest 132% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,592±$221Lowest 13% above U.S. |
— | $2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,944Highest 155% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.4%±9.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swampscott and Newburyport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 19% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Newburyport 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 | #56 of 282 in MA | — | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newburyport | — | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Newburyport High | — | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.