Compare towns
Swampscott vs Dedham vs Lynn vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Lynn has the most renters (51.9% rent).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
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 | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,277Lowest |
25,237 |
101,709Highest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Marblehead 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Dedham 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% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest 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±$23k 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Marblehead 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 |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
$1,764±$147 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 | $7,936 32% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$5,384Lowest 10% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
13.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 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 |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Dedham | Lynn | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Dedham High | Lynn English High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
10.4Lowest |
15.0Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.