Compare towns
Swampscott vs Webster 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 highest household income ($134k).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($333k median).
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Webster | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277 |
12,228Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5Highest 11% above MA |
37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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% |
15.7%±2.5Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Webster 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 |
$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$3,234Lowest 46% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.1%±7.4Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
16%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Highest 9 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Salem 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 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.