Compare towns
Swampscott vs Needham vs Maynard
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).
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.
| Measure | Swampscott | Needham | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277 |
32,459Highest |
10,712Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$23k 29% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $771,100±$41k 37% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest 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 |
$8,266 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest 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 | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Needham | Maynard |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Needham High | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.9Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| 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.