Compare towns
Swampscott vs Upton vs Webster vs Marblehead
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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
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 | Upton | Webster | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,277 |
8,189Lowest |
17,748 |
20,413Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Marblehead 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%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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±$23k 29% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Marblehead and Upton 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936 32% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Upton 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Webster | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Blackstone Valley | Bartlett High School | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.2 |
11.6 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.