Town · Massachusetts
Swansea, Massachusetts
Swansea, town, in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Swansea had 17,701 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 3.0% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 17,144 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 17,359 (±20). GEOID 2500568750.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
17,701
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 17,144 · ACS 2020-2024: 17,359 ±20
Median household income
$116,364
±$14,438 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$445,000
±$18,804 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$1,226
±$84 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Swansea and what county is it in?
Swansea is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts. It covers 22.7 square miles of land, 756 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Swansea: Ocean Grove (CDP, 2,904 in 2020).
Swansea is in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 6 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Swansea, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 17,701 people lived in Swansea on July 1, 2025, up 3.0% since 2020, faster than Massachusetts (+1.7%). The 2020 Census counted 17,144 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 17,359 (±20).
| Measure | Swansea | Bristol County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 17,359±20 | 582,270 | +792 |
| Households | 6,790±365 | 233,825 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.53±0.14 | 2.43 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 6,865±368 | 245,025 | no clear change |
Swansea's population since 2000
From 15,901 in 2000 to 17,701 in 2025: up 11.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Swansea as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Swansea?
The median resident of Swansea is 45.0 years old; 20.5% are under 18 and 25.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 86.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 7.7%. 9.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Swansea | Bristol County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.0±3.3 | 40.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.5%±2.9 pts | 20.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.0%±2.8 pts | 17.8% | – |
| Male | 48.0%±2.6 pts | 48.9% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.7%±5.3 pts | 10.2% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 86.6%±5.5 pts | 75.3% | −9.8 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.8%±0.6 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.1%±0.9 pts | 2.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.8%±1.8 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.2%±2.6 pts | 13.6% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 13.9%±5.5 pts | 21.7% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.6%±1.7 pts | 5.2% | – |
| With a disability | 13.7%±2.0 pts | 14.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 1.9%±1.5 pts | 3.3% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.2%±2.4 pts | 86.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 36.8%±4.2 pts | 30.8% | +12.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 13.5%±3.0 pts | 11.4% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 95.8%±1.5 pts | 90.8% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.7%±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Swansea earn?
Half of Swansea's 6,790 households earn less than $116,364 a year (±$14,438), against $85,625 in Bristol County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $106,624 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 2.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Swansea | Bristol County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $116,364±$14,438 | $85,625 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $126,663±$9,620 | $111,532 | – |
| Per capita income | $48,930±$3,127 | $44,757 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 2.8%±1.5 pts | 11.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 2.5%±3.0 pts | 14.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 11.4%±3.2 pts | 19.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 93.0%±2.6 pts | 94.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.3%±4.2 pts | 90.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Swansea?
Owners occupy 85.2% of Swansea's occupied homes and renters 14.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $445,000 by its owner (±$18,804). The median renter pays $1,226 a month including utilities, and 46.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Swansea | Bristol County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $445,000±$18,804 | $451,200 | +$89,699 |
| Median gross rent | $1,226±$84 | $1,245 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 46.2%±13.3 pts | 42.3% | +20.0 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,248±$104 | $2,394 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 85.2%±3.9 pts | 62.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 14.8%±3.9 pts | 37.7% | – |
| Housing units | 6,865±368 | 245,025 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.0%±1.5 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±4.1 pts | 2.1% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 90.5%±2.5 pts | 52.6% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0%±0.6 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5%±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.2%±2.5 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 22.3%±4.5 pts | 31.8% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 2.9%±1.5 pts | 9.5% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Swansea building?
Builders took permits for 11 new housing units in Swansea in 2025 (11 in single-family houses), 0.6 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Swansea work and get to work?
78.2% of Swansea's workers drive alone and 7.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.5%.
| Measure | Swansea | Bristol County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.0%±3.2 pts | 65.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5%±1.7 pts | 5.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 78.2%±6.0 pts | 74.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 12.2%±5.8 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.8%±0.9 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Walked | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.4%±2.3 pts | 11.1% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.0 min±2.9 | 28.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Swansea?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Swansea (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $107,647 (Tract 6451.03) to $125,175 (Tract 6451.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 6451.03Bristol County | 5,981 | $107,647 |
| Tract 6451.02Bristol County | 5,906 | $125,175 |
| Tract 6451.01Bristol County | 5,472 | $118,750 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Swansea) · Census block assignment files
How does Swansea compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Swansea is the 691st-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 45th-most populous of 266 in Massachusetts.
Swansea ranks 200th of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 45th | 266 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 75th | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 247th | 461 |
| Median household income | 200th | 453 |
| Per capita income | 335th | 460 |
| Median home value | 300th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 302nd | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 318th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 327th | 459 |
| Median age | 216th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 145th | 460 |
| Work from home | 408th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 335th | 459 |
Swansea's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Swansea with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Swansea?
15 of the 57 figures for Swansea on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Swansea are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.