Compare towns
Swampscott vs Ashland vs Maynard
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 expensive homes ($771k median).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
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 | Ashland | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277 |
18,873Highest |
10,712Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
| Maynard 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% |
18.4%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Ashland 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% |
18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Ashland 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% |
60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Ashland 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 |
$127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
| Swampscott and Ashland 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 |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
| Ashland and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936 32% above MA |
$7,444Lowest 24% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.3% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
32 minLowest 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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 | #42 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Ashland | Maynard |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Ashland High | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
14.0Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.