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Swampscott, MA

High Pressure

Living in Swampscott, MA costs about 73% more than the national average (Cost Index: 173). Housing is the main driver — the typical home value of $799,941 is well above the $303,400 US median. The local median household income is $128,964, which helps frame the place-side housing burden.

Swampscott already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 21% rent burden, 6.2x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 264. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Swampscott.

Monthly Housing
$2,223/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
21%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$8,024/mo
After housing and debt · $2,675/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: everyday costs
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 25%
Uses a URL fragment, so it does not create a separate indexed page.
Cost Index
173
Very Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$799,941
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $690,800
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$2,223/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$128,964
National: $78,538
Population
15,209
Purchasing Power
95
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
264 / 100
~2.6x more expensive
Rent Index
165 / 100
65% above average
Goods & Groceries
100 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
149 / 100
49% higher utility bills
Healthcare & Services
104 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
173
Very Expensive · 73% above average

Swampscott Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $799,941 and Massachusetts's property tax rate of 1.15%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$128,964
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
21%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
6.2x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Swampscott looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Swampscott, MA

Est. Annual Property Tax
$9,199
Monthly Impact
$767
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
1.15%
National avg: ~1.00%

Massachusetts Place Tax Context

Tax TypeMassachusettsNational Avg
Property Tax Rate1.15%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate9%~5.0%
State Sales Tax6.25%~5.0%

Compare Swampscott to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Swampscott, MA
173
165
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Swampscott, MA: 264
Rent Prices
165

FAQ: Living in Swampscott

Is Swampscott, MA an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Swampscott is about 73% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 173. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $799,941, and monthly rents average roughly $2,223. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Swampscott fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $2,223, while local median household income is $128,964. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 21% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Swampscott, MA?+

Massachusetts has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 9%. The effective property tax rate is 1.15%. On a home worth $799,941, that translates to roughly $9,199 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 6.25% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in Swampscott, MA?+

The typical monthly rent in Swampscott is around $2,223. That's about 65% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $799,941, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Swampscott, MA?+

The median home in Swampscott is valued at $799,941. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $4,045/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 74% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Swampscott?+

Grocery prices in Swampscott are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 100, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are on the high side (index: 149). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Swampscott, MA like to live in?+

Swampscott is a small town with a population of about 15,209. The median age of residents is 45.3, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 7%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Massachusetts

If Swampscott feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Massachusetts

Use these city pages when you want to compare Swampscott against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly