Compare towns
Swampscott vs Needham 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 the most affordable homes ($771k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277Lowest |
32,459Highest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest 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 |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Needham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $771,100±$41kLowest 37% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest 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% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Needham 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 | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Needham | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Needham High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.9Highest |
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.