Compare towns
Swampscott vs Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Reading has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Reading | Maynard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277 |
25,612Highest |
10,712Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% 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% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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 |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
| Reading and Swampscott 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 |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
| Reading and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest about the MA average |
| Swampscott and Reading 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 |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | — | Maynard |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | — | Maynard High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 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.