What stands out worked out from the figures below

Swansea has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

Somerset has the most people working from home (12%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Swansea	Somerset
People
Population	17,359Lowest	18,298Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±3.3Lowest 13% above MA	47±2.2Highest 18% above MA
	Somerset and Swansea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Swansea and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%	25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Somerset and Swansea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	37.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.7%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Somerset and Swansea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$116,364±$14kHighest 12% above MA	$112,677±$6kLowest 8% above MA
	Swansea and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$445,000±$19kHighest 21% below MA	$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA
	Swansea and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,226±$84Lowest 30% below MA	$1,271±$93Highest 28% below MA
	Somerset and Swansea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,846Lowest 19% below MA	$4,977Highest 17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.1%±17.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Somerset and Swansea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.8%Lowest MA: 10%	4.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	7.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	12%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Somerset and Swansea 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	#131 of 282 in MA	#132 of 282 in MA
School district	Swansea	—
High school in town	Joseph Case High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.