© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Swampscott.
Swampscott is an unincorporated community in Essex County, MA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Swampscott
If you're seriously considering a move to Swampscott, understand that you're buying into an affluent North Shore residential community where waterfront access and a tight-knit suburban feel come with a premium price tag. The median home value hovers around $771,000, with oceanfront and view properties easily reaching $1 million-plus, so this is a town for people comfortable with substantial real estate costs—though the median household income of about $134,000 reflects who typically settles here. The commute to Boston runs about 35 minutes on average, and you'll rely on the MBTA's Newburyport/Rockport Line or your car to get around, as there's no highway access through town, which keeps the suburban character intact but means you're car-dependent for most errands.
Swampscott at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
44.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Foreign-Born
20.5%
Broadband Internet
96.7%
of households
Population Growth
+1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics20.5% foreign-born, most often from Russia
Who lives in Swampscott: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Swampscott, the largest foreign-born group is from Russia (14.7%), and 8.6% of residents speak Other Indo-European at home.
Under 18
20.1%
of residents
65 and Older
20.4%
of residents
Households with Kids
29.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.4%
of households
Married Couples
59.1%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.46
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 31% above MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Swampscott
In Swampscott, rent runs 31% above the MA average, and home values are 37% above the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
55.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$7,936
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
75.9%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1955
median year built
Vacant Homes
6.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $813,834 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MA
Unemployment in Swampscott
Unemployment in Essex County, which includes Swampscott, is close to the MA average.
Unemployment rate
Swampscott: Essex County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Essex County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Swampscott is about 2% of Essex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Swampscott Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute34.3 min avg
How Swampscott residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Swampscott, most residents drive alone to work (55%), and 48% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 61% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Swampscott runs 61% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
126.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
913.6
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Swampscott Police Department
Natural DisastersStrong Wind most common — 9 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Essex County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Essex County, which includes Swampscott, the most common type is strong wind, with 9 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $18,700 |
| 2024 | 9 | High Wind | $3,500 |
| 2023 | 18 | Heavy Snow | $21,500 |
| 2022 | 19 | Strong Wind | $140,700 |
| 2021 | 30 | Thunderstorm Wind | $261,900 |
| 2020 | 37 | High Wind | $63,100 |
| 2019 | 26 | Strong Wind | $171,950 |
| 2018 | 34 | Strong Wind | $564,200 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Essex County, county-wide
Swampscott is about 2% of Essex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Essex County, which includes Swampscott, is typically good — 296 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
296
per year
Moderate Days
66
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Essex County, county-wide
Swampscott is about 2% of Essex County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate78°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Swampscott has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.3"
Annual Snowfall
39.1"
Hot Days/Year
9
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
108
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
115
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°F | 18°F | 3.75" |
| Feb | 38°F | 20°F | 3.50" |
| Mar | 44°F | 26°F | 4.71" |
| Apr | 55°F | 36°F | 4.30" |
| May | 65°F | 45°F | 3.48" |
| Jun | 74°F | 54°F | 4.14" |
| Jul | 80°F | 61°F | 3.48" |
| Aug | 79°F | 60°F | 3.25" |
| Sep | 72°F | 53°F | 3.56" |
| Oct | 61°F | 42°F | 5.00" |
| Nov | 51°F | 33°F | 4.15" |
| Dec | 42°F | 24°F | 4.70" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Swampscott
Uninsured
1.1%
of residents
No hospitals inside Swampscott's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
North Shore Medical Center -
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3 mi away · Salem
Northeast Hospital Corporation
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.9 mi away · Beverly
Melrosewakefield Healthcare
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.4 mi away · Melrose
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Swampscott
Swampscott's student/teacher ratio is 11.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 62.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
62.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Swampscott (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,248 students · in-state tuition $71,372 · 89% graduate · median earnings $89,087 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 17,326 students · in-state tuition $69,289 · 91% graduate · median earnings $99,371 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Massachusetts-Boston
12.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 11,512 students · in-state tuition $16,558 · 62% graduate · median earnings $70,597 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 8,612 students · in-state tuition $6,288 · 22% graduate · median earnings $51,734 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,601 students · in-state tuition $64,796 · 98% graduate · median earnings $121,957 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,468 students · in-state tuition $54,000 · 61% graduate · median earnings $43,451 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Salem Maritime National Historical Park, 4 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Swampscott
Swampscott has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Salem Maritime National Historical Park (4 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Salem Maritime National Historical Park
National Historical Park
4 mi awaySaugus Iron Works National Historic Site
National Historic Site
5 mi awayBoston National Historical Park
National Historical Park
10 mi awayBoston African American National Historic Site
National Historic Site
11 mi awayBoston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
11 mi awayLongfellow House Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
National Historic Site
12 mi awayJohn Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site
National Historic Site
14 mi awayFrederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayPublic Libraries in Swampscott
Swampscott Public Library
61 Burrill St., Swampscott
Cities Near Swampscott
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Swampscott?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Swampscott FAQ
Is Swampscott, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Swampscott's median rent is $2,303/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $134,386/year. Median home value is $771,100.
Is Swampscott, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Swampscott's violent crime rate was 127 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 914 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Swampscott, Massachusetts?⌄
Essex County, which includes Swampscott, has an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Swampscott, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Swampscott is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,303/month and median household income is $134,386/year. The median home value is $771,100. About 56% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Swampscott, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Swampscott is 34 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from