Compare towns
Windham vs Swampscott vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k median).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% 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.
| Measure | Windham | Swampscott | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
15,277 |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swampscott and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$7,936Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swampscott and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Swampscott and Hampden 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #76 of 282 in MA | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 14 | Swampscott | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Swampscott High | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.7Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.