Salem 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 $325k more for a 4BR in Swampscott, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $325k for one tier of schooling.
Swampscott is about 5 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Salem works out roughly $4,300 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Salem if you want the lower price.
All Salem numbers →Choose Swampscott if you want the stronger schools of the two, or the commute matters most.
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.
SchoolsSwampscott ahead on 4 of 8, 1 against
| Salem | Swampscott | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | strong schoolsT2 |
| MCAS achievement | 21st | 57th |
| Student growth | 53rd | 45th |
| Graduation rate | 86.3% | 93.5% |
| State accountability | Substantial progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $25,712 | $21,735 |
| Schools in the district | 8 | 2 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 15 | 36 |
What a home costsSalem ahead on 4 of 6
| Salem | Swampscott | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $725kT2 | $1.05MT3 |
| 3BR townhouse | $575k | $780k |
| 2BR condo | $425k | $575k |
| 3BR rent | $3,287/mo | $3,287/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $193k | $278k |
| 10-year price growth | 6.1% a year | 6.3% a year |
What you pay the townSalem ahead on 1 of 4
| Salem | Swampscott | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $10.78T2 | $11.50T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$7,800 | ≈$12,100 |
| Town spending per resident | $4,074 | $4,789 |
| Share of budget on schools | 43% | 45% |
Getting to workSwampscott ahead on 7 of 8
| Salem | Swampscott | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 47 minT3 | 42 minT2 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~38 min to terminal | Commuter rail · ~31 min to terminal |
| Miles from downtown | 13 mi | 10 mi |
| Rail to Downtown | 38 min | 31 min |
| Rail to Back Bay | 48 min | 41 min |
| Rail to Kendall Sq | 50 min | 42 min |
| Rail to the Seaport | 50 min | 41 min |
| Rail to Longwood | 66 min | 56 min |
Before kindergartenSalem ahead on 3 of 4
| Salem | Swampscott | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 59 | 17 |
| Child care places | 1,804 | 679 |
| Centers vs family programs | 21 centers | 9 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 235 | 147 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Salem | Swampscott | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,480 | 15,111 |
| Energy | 9/10 | 6/10 |
| Compact center | 9/10 | 7/10 |
| Family amenities | 7/10 | 7/10 |
| Culture | 10/10 | 7/10 |
| Gathering places | 10/10 | 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.
