What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k 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	Maynard
People
Population	15,277Highest	10,712Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA	45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA
	Maynard 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%	16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%	18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Swampscott and Maynard 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%	64.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9%	3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Swampscott and Maynard 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	$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA
	Swampscott and Maynard 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	$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA	$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,936Lowest 32% above MA	$8,266Highest 38% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.1%Lowest MA: 10%	8.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	75%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA	1963Highest 1 yr older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	32 minLowest 9% above MA
Work from home	27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%	22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Swampscott and Maynard 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	#166 of 282 in MA
School district	Swampscott	Maynard
High school in town	Swampscott High	Maynard High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	9.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.