Compare towns
Swampscott vs Dedham vs Swampscott
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).
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 | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277Lowest |
25,237Highest |
15,277Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above 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%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$2,042±$182Lowest 16% above MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$7,936Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #76 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| 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.