Compare towns
Swampscott vs Needham vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swampscott has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Needham | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277 |
32,459Highest |
13,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$745,400±$40kLowest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Needham 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 |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | — | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | — | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.