Compare towns
Swampscott vs Dedham vs Lynn
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 people working from home (27.2%).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Lynn has the most renters (51.9% 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 | Dedham | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277Lowest |
25,237 |
101,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
| Dedham and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Swampscott 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%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Lynn 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 |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
| Swampscott and Dedham 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 |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
| Swampscott and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$5,384Lowest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Dedham | Lynn |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Dedham High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
10.4Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| 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.