Compare towns
Swampscott vs Scituate 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%).
Scituate has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
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 | Scituate | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277Highest |
5,796Lowest |
13,930 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.1% MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5Lowest 11% above MA |
51.7±3.8Highest 29% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
| Scituate and Ipswich 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% |
22.1%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Scituate and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Scituate and Ipswich 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% |
64.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$124,549±$27kLowest 20% above MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich 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 |
$821,600±$82kHighest 46% above MA |
$745,400±$40kLowest 33% above MA |
| Scituate 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 |
$884±$721Lowest 50% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936Lowest 32% above MA |
$8,345Highest 39% above MA |
$7,960 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.4%±8Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
83%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.6%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Scituate 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 | #43 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | — | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | — | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.