Compare towns
Swampscott vs Webster vs Maynard 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).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Maynard has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Webster | Maynard | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,277 |
17,748 |
10,712Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Maynard and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott and Webster 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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 |
$361,500±$12kLowest 36% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936 32% above MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Webster | Maynard | Salem |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Bartlett High School | Maynard High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.6 |
9.7Lowest |
9.8 |
| 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.