Compare towns
Northfield vs Ogunquit vs Swampscott vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Swampscott has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Northfield | Ogunquit | Swampscott | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872 |
1,379Lowest |
15,277Highest |
1,639 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±4.2 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49±2.3 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Swampscott and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Swampscott and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,375±$10k 28% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$102,000±$20kLowest 26% 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 | $375,800±$31kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41k 132% above U.S. |
$420,100±$20k 26% 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 | $1,142±$200Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$7,936Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,103Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±69.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swampscott and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | #231 of 282 in MA | — | #76 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | — | Swampscott | Quabbin |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | — | Swampscott High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.