What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k 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.

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

Measure	Swampscott	Concord
People
Population	15,277Lowest	18,223Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA	47.6±2Highest 19% above MA
	Concord and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Concord and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Concord 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	79.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Concord and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,386±$23kLowest 29% above MA	$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$771,100±$41kLowest 37% above MA	$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,303±$143Lowest 31% above MA	$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,936Lowest 32% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	53.2%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Swampscott and Concord 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	32 minLowest 11% above MA
Work from home	27.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Concord 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	#10 of 282 in MA
School district	Swampscott	Concord · Concord-Carlisle
High school in town	Swampscott High	Concord Carlisle High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	11.4Lowest
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.