What stands out worked out from the figures below

Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k median).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Swampscott	Thompson
People
Population	15,277Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.5±3.5Lowest 14% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Swampscott and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$134,386±$23kHighest 66% above U.S.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,936Highest 154% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Swampscott and Thompson 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%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#76 of 282 in MA	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Swampscott	Thompson School District
High school in town	Swampscott High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.