Compare towns
Swampscott vs Burlington 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Burlington | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277 |
26,274Highest |
10,712Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
45.9±2.2Highest 15% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
| Burlington and Maynard 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% |
17.1%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Burlington 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%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Burlington 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% MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$146,436±$14kHighest 41% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
| Burlington 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 |
$740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
| Swampscott and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$2,718±$368Highest 54% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
| Burlington 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 |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
5.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Lowest 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 | #83 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Burlington | Maynard |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Burlington High | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.3 |
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.