The Town FilesSwampscott, Massachusetts
Community in Essex County · population 15,111 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $771,100
- Household income
- $134,386
- Jan low / Jul high
- 18° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 39 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 44.5
Swampscott is a community of 15,111 people in Essex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $771,100, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better transit than 97% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 96% of Massachusetts towns, more vibrant than 94% of Massachusetts towns.
How Swampscott ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Swampscott is worth $771,100, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 5.7 times the median household income of $134,386, which is more affordable than 24% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $2,303 a month. 75.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Swampscott | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $771,100 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $2,303 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $134,386 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 75.9% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1955 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in Swampscott
| People | Swampscott | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.5 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 62.2% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 20.5% | — |
| Work from home | 27.2% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 34.3 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.7% | 93.9% |
Weather in Swampscott
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 17.9°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 39.1 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 108 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swampscott since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 28, 2014 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 28, 2014.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 11, 2006.
Severe weather in Essex County since 1996
Essex County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| June 25, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4372: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Essex County
Essex County had 323,694 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,548 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Swampscott itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Swampscott
5 public schools with 2,078 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swampscott Middle | 5-8 | 687 | 11.1 |
| Swampscott High | 9-12 | 666 | 11.1 |
| Hadley | K-4 | 356 | 12.3 |
| Clarke | K-4 | 206 | 9.8 |
| Stanley | 1-4 | 163 | 11.6 |
Towns near Swampscott
- Salem, MA2.2 mi · 44,480 people · home $542,800
- Marblehead, MA3.4 mi · 20,441 people · home $943,900
- Lynn, MA3.6 mi · 101,253 people · home $510,100
- Nahant, MA4.0 mi · 3,334 people · home $748,800
- Revere, MA6.0 mi · 62,186 people · home $597,400
- Peabody, MA6.1 mi · 54,481 people · home $596,200
- Saugus, MA6.3 mi · 28,619 people · home $603,400
- Beverly, MA6.6 mi · 42,670 people · home $650,300
Swampscott questions
Is Swampscott, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Swampscott scores better for retirees than 58% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 10%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.5).
How much does a house cost in Swampscott?
The median owner-occupied home in Swampscott is valued at $771,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $134,386, so homes cost about 5.7 times income. Median rent is $2,303 a month.
What is the weather like in Swampscott?
July highs average 80.3°F and January lows 17.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 39.1 inches of snow.
Does Swampscott get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swampscott since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 28, 2014. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)