Compare towns
Swampscott vs Dover vs Marblehead
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%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Dover | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277 |
5,930Lowest |
20,413Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Dover 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $771,100±$41kLowest 37% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Dover and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936Lowest 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Marblehead 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Marblehead 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.7 |
| 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.