Compare towns
Swampscott vs Needham vs Marblehead vs Lynn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Lynn has the most renters (51.9% rent).
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 | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,277Lowest |
32,459 |
20,413 |
101,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below 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% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Lynn 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% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest 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% |
5.4%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below 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±$41k 37% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,722±$60Lowest 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 | $7,936 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$5,384Lowest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
13.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest 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 |
1946 18 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 |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest 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 | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Needham | Marblehead | Lynn |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Needham High | Marblehead High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.9 |
10.7Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.