What is the cost of living in Swampscott, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Swampscott has an overall cost of living index of 160, which is 1.6x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Swampscott has a cost of living index that's 1.2x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Swampscott ranks as #84 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Swampscott ranks as the #29 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Swampscott, check out:
Swampscott Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Swampscott. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Swampscott is 107.
The Groceries index in Swampscott is 114.
The Health index in Swampscott is 261.
The Housing index in Swampscott is 114.
The Transportation index in Swampscott is 113.
The Utilities index in Swampscott is 115.
| Living Expense | Swampscott | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 160 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 107 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 114 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 261 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 114 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 113 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 115 | 114 | 100 |
Swampscott Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Swampscott, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Swampscott is $816,299.
The Median Rent in Swampscott is $2,303.
The Median Income in Swampscott is $134,386.
The Home Value To Income in Swampscott is 6.1x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Swampscott is 0.21x.
| Statistic | Swampscott | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $816,299 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,303 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $134,386 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.1x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.21x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Swampscott, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Swampscott Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Swampscott | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Swampscott Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Swampscott | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Swampscott Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Swampscott | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Swampscott Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Swampscott | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Swampscott Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Swampscott | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Swampscott SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Swampscott
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Swampscott. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Lynn, MA has a cost of living index of 136, 0.8x Swampscott.
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.3x Swampscott.
Brookline, MA has a cost of living index of 221, 1.4x Swampscott.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynn, MA | 101,709 | 136 | 0.8x |
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.3x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.4x |
| Revere, MA | 60,012 | 138 | 0.9x |
| Peabody, MA | 54,695 | 142 | 0.9x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 1.1x |
| Salem, MA | 44,795 | 135 | 0.8x |
| Beverly, MA | 42,665 | 148 | 0.9x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.3x |
| Melrose, MA | 29,650 | 167 | 1.0x |
