Compare towns
Northampton 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
Northampton has the most affordable homes ($430k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Swampscott has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Northampton | Ogunquit | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,962Highest |
1,379Lowest |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±2.2Lowest 6% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Swampscott and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±1.7Lowest 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+ | 62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,288±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,700±$17kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41k 132% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,439±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,680 82% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,936Highest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northampton and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | #159 of 282 in MA | — | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | — | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Northampton High | — | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| 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.