Compare towns
Swampscott vs Walpole vs Salem
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).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Walpole | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277Lowest |
26,388 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Swampscott and Walpole 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% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole 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% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 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% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Walpole 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±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Swampscott and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936 32% above MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Salem |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Walpole High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.3 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.