What stands out worked out from the figures below

Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Swampscott	Hull
People
Population	15,277Highest	10,138Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA	56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA
Kids under 18	20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hull and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Swampscott and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA	$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA
	Swampscott and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA	$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA	$2,081±$187Lowest 18% above MA
	Swampscott and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,936Highest 32% above MA	$6,089Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Swampscott and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Highest MA: 10%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Highest 9 yrs older than MA	1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	33 minLowest 14% above MA
Work from home	27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Swampscott and Hull 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	#76 of 282 in MA	#66 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Hull
High school in town	—	Hull High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.