Compare towns
Northfield vs Ogunquit vs Swampscott vs Sheffield
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 most kids (20.1% under 18).
Sheffield has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,872 |
1,379Lowest |
15,277Highest |
3,330 |
| 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% |
+2.1% 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. |
48.2±8 24% 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% |
13.3%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Swampscott and Northfield 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% |
23.2%±5.2 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% |
37.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest 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. |
$92,120±$31kLowest 14% 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. |
$409,400±$32k 23% 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. |
$1,837±$1k 30% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,936Highest 154% above U.S. |
$4,520 45% 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% |
29.2%±21.2 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% |
6.4% 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% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below 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% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest 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 | #250 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | — | Swampscott | Southern Berkshire |
| High school in town | Pioneer Valley Regional | — | Swampscott High | Mt Everett Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | 11.7Highest |
7.8Lowest |
| 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.