Compare towns
Swampscott vs Salem vs Lynn
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 highest household income ($134k).
Salem has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Salem | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277Lowest |
44,795 |
101,709Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5Highest 11% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lynn and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$5,384Lowest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
13.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Highest 9 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Salem | Lynn |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Salem High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
9.8Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.