Compare towns
Windham vs Swampscott vs North Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
Swampscott has the most expensive homes ($771k median).
North Windham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
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 | North Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,188Highest |
15,277 |
5,417Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
42±3 8% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Swampscott and Windham 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% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swampscott and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Swampscott and North Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$88,522±$8kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Swampscott and Windham 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. |
$342,800±$29kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,303±$143Highest 63% above U.S. |
$1,248±$604 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,938 26% above U.S. |
$7,936Highest 154% above U.S. |
$3,546Lowest 14% 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% |
30.7%±14.3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Swampscott and North Windham 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 14 | Swampscott | — |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Swampscott High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.