Compare towns
Swampscott vs Newfields vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Newfields | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277 |
2,023Lowest |
18,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
42.1±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Swampscott and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 66% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$127,539±$11kLowest 58% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$611,700±$18kLowest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143 63% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$2,452±$298Highest 74% above U.S. |
| Ashland and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,444Lowest 139% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.2%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Swampscott and Newfields 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 | — | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Newfields School District | Ashland |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | None in town | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.