Compare towns
Swampscott vs Acton 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 the most homeowners (75.9%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Acton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277Lowest |
24,155 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5Highest 11% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.2% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Acton 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±$41k 37% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Acton and Swampscott 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 |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest 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% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #76 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Acton-Boxborough | Salem |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.