The Town FilesSwansea, Massachusetts
Town in Bristol County · population 17,144 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $445,000
- Household income
- $116,364
- Jan low / Jul high
- 24° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 45.0
Swansea is a town of 17,144 people in Bristol County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $445,000, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks easier by car than 83% of Massachusetts towns, more seaside character than 81% of Massachusetts towns, better for families than 77% of Massachusetts towns.
How Swansea 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 Swansea is worth $445,000, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $116,364, which is more affordable than 81% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,226 a month. 85.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Swansea | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $445,000 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,226 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $116,364 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 85.2% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Swansea
| People | Swansea | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.0% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.8% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.8% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.2% | — |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 93.9% |
Weather in Swansea
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 23.6°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.1 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 105 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swansea since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on June 26, 2024 about 4.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 26, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Bristol County since 1996
Bristol County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2024 | Flood | DR-4780: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| April 18, 2022 | Snowstorm | DR-4651: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Bristol County
Bristol County had 227,971 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $64,669 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Swansea itself the ACS puts it at 3.5%.
Public schools in Swansea
6 public schools with 2,049 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Case High | 9-12 | 574 | 13.3 |
| Joseph Case Jr High | 6-8 | 495 | 12.4 |
| Elizabeth S Brown | 3-5 | 274 | 18.3 |
| Gardner | K-2 | 270 | 16.9 |
| Mark G Hoyle Elementary | PK-2 | 257 | 15.1 |
| Joseph G Luther | 3-5 | 179 | 11.9 |
Towns near Swansea
- Ocean Grove, MA2.0 mi · 2,904 people · home $362,200
- Somerset, MA2.9 mi · 18,303 people · home $418,800
- Warren, RI3.2 mi · 11,147 people · home $395,700
- Barrington, RI5.7 mi · 17,153 people · home $644,100
- Dighton, MA5.9 mi · 8,101 people · home $501,900
- Rehoboth, MA6.3 mi · 12,502 people · home $563,000
- Bristol, RI6.5 mi · 22,493 people · home $485,000
- Fall River, MA6.6 mi · 94,000 people · home $395,500
Swansea questions
Is Swansea, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Swansea scores better for retirees than 36% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 62%. 25.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.0).
How much does a house cost in Swansea?
The median owner-occupied home in Swansea is valued at $445,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $116,364, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,226 a month.
What is the weather like in Swansea?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 23.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 38.1 inches of snow.
Does Swansea get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swansea since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on June 26, 2024. 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)