Compare towns
Swampscott vs Ipswich vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swampscott has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Swampscott | Ipswich | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277 |
13,930Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Ipswich and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich 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% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Ipswich and Swampscott 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 |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Swampscott and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936 32% above MA |
$7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Salem 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 | #101 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ipswich | Salem |
| High school in town | — | Ipswich High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.