Compare towns
Swampscott vs Worcester vs Ipswich
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 people working from home (27.2%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Ipswich has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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 | Worcester | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,277 |
207,055Highest |
13,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±3.5 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
| Ipswich 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%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Swampscott and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ipswich 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
60.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,386±$23k 29% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
| Ipswich 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 |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$745,400±$40k 33% above MA |
| Swampscott and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,936 32% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$7,960Highest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott and Ipswich 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Swampscott | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Swampscott High | South High Community | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
14.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| 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.