Compare towns
Swampscott vs Newfields vs Marblehead
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
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 | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277 |
2,023Lowest |
20,413Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marblehead and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest 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% |
3.8%±1Lowest 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±$23kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28k 126% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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 132% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936Lowest 154% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,309 166% 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% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swampscott and Marblehead 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marblehead 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 | — | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Newfields School District | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | None in town | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.