Compare towns
Swampscott vs Reading vs Maynard vs Ipswich
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).
Ipswich has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,277 |
25,612Highest |
10,712Lowest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich and Maynard 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% |
18.9%±2.7 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest 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% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Swampscott and Ipswich 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 |
$138,750±$16k 33% above MA |
| Reading and Ipswich 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 |
$745,400±$40k 33% above 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±$148 about the MA average |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| 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 |
$7,960 33% 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% |
51.5%±12.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Ipswich 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% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | — | Maynard | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | — | Maynard High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 9.7 |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.