Compare towns
Swampscott vs Westhampton 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).
Westhampton has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
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 | Westhampton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277 |
1,552Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
49.3±4.9Highest 23% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Westhampton 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% |
18%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Westhampton 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% |
25.4%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westhampton and Swampscott 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% |
47%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$413,200±$24kLowest 26% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,304±$229Lowest 26% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$6,476 8% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest 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% |
6.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Lowest 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 | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Hampshire · Westhampton | Salem |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | Hampshire Regional High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
10.0 |
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.