Compare towns

Swampscott vs Williamsburg vs Foxborough

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).
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Foxborough has the most kids (22% under 18).

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.

MeasureSwampscottWilliamsburgFoxborough
People
Population
15,277
2,694Lowest
18,615Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.6%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+10.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
44.5±3.5
11% above MA
50±2.4Highest
25% above MA
42.4±1.9Lowest
6% above MA
Williamsburg and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.1%±2.9
MA: 19.4%
18.6%±4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22%±3.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
Foxborough and Swampscott 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%
22.7%±3.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.2%±2.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Williamsburg 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%
60.6%
MA: 47.3%
58.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±1.7
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.2%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Williamsburg 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±$23kHighest
29% above MA
$104,792±$21kLowest
about the MA average
$115,833±$9k
11% above MA
Swampscott and Foxborough 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
$403,100±$37kLowest
28% below MA
$606,300±$28k
8% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,303±$143Highest
31% above MA
$1,420±$228Lowest
19% below MA
$1,843±$70
5% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,936Highest
32% above MA
$5,761Lowest
4% below MA
$7,275
21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57%±14.2
MA: 51.8%
61%±28Highest
MA: 51.8%
54%±13.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Williamsburg and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%Highest
MA: 10%
2.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.9%
MA: 62.5%
82.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1955Lowest
9 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
18% above MA
25 minLowest
13% below MA
29 min
about the MA average
Work from home
27.2%±4.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
26.5%±6.7
MA: 18.6%
17.8%±2.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Swampscott and Williamsburg 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 — #138 of 282 in MA
School district Swampscott Williamsburg Foxborough
High school in town Swampscott High None in town Foxborough High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Highest
—
11.3Lowest
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.