Compare towns
Swampscott vs Townsend vs Ashland
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 most expensive homes ($771k median).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
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 | Townsend | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277 |
9,100Lowest |
18,873Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest about the MA average |
42.1±1.4 5% above MA |
| Swampscott and Ashland 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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Ashland 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend and Swampscott 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 29% above MA |
$121,528±$23kLowest 17% above MA |
$127,539±$11k 23% above MA |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$611,700±$18k 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143 31% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA |
| Ashland and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$7,444 24% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.2%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 18% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Ashland 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #42 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | North Middlesex | Ashland |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | North Middlesex Regional | Ashland High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
13.1 |
14.0Highest |
| 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.