Marblehead vs Swampscott
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $300k more for a 4BR in Marblehead, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $300k for 25 MCAS percentile points inside the same tier.
Swampscott is about 14 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak, and it has MBTA rail while Marblehead does not. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
Choose Marblehead if you want the stronger schools of the two.
All Marblehead numbers →Choose Swampscott if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most, or you want a train.
All Swampscott numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsMarblehead ahead on 5 of 10, 1 against
| Marblehead | Swampscott | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | strong schoolsT2 |
| MCAS achievement | 82nd | 57th |
| Student growth | 54th | 45th |
| Graduation rate | 97.6% | 93.5% |
| Niche district rank | 44th of 236 | 77th of 236 |
| SchoolDigger rank | 93rd of 361 | 122nd of 361 |
| State accountability | Substantial progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $21,971 | $21,735 |
| Schools in the district | 4 | 2 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 13 | 36 |
What a home costsSwampscott ahead on 4 of 6
| Marblehead | Swampscott | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $1.35MT3 | $1.05MT3 |
| 3BR townhouse | $900k | $780k |
| 2BR condo | $665k | $575k |
| 3BR rent | $3,287/mo | $3,287/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $341k | $278k |
| 10-year price growth | 5.9% a year | 6.3% a year |
What you pay the townMarblehead ahead on 1 of 4
| Marblehead | Swampscott | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $8.56T1 | $11.50T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$11,600 | ≈$12,100 |
| Town spending per resident | $5,123 | $4,789 |
| Share of budget on schools | 45% | 45% |
Getting to workSwampscott ahead on 3 of 3
| Marblehead | Swampscott | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 56 minT3 | 42 minT2 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~31 min to terminal |
| Miles from downtown | 15 mi | 10 mi |
Before kindergartenMarblehead ahead on 3 of 4
| Marblehead | Swampscott | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 20 | 17 |
| Child care places | 1,273 | 679 |
| Centers vs family programs | 15 centers | 9 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 243 | 147 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Marblehead | Swampscott | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,441 | 15,111 |
| Energy | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Compact center | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Family amenities | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Culture | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Gathering places | 8/10 | 8/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
