Compare towns
Swampscott vs Millis 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%).
Millis has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
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 | Millis | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277 |
8,888Lowest |
20,413Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
46.4±3 16% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Millis 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% |
18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Marblehead 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% |
54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Millis 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 |
$155,996±$9k 50% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Marblehead and Millis 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 |
$603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936Lowest 32% above MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Millis 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Millis | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Millis High School | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.