Residential Rate No Longer Tops North Shore List

Swampscott's residential rose slightly in 2011 and is no longer the highest among eight area municipalities. It slipped from highest in 2010 to third highest in 2011.

The same can not be said for the rate paid by . The Swampscott commercial rate remains the highest among the North Shore eight.

Overall, Town Administrator Andrew Maylor says, the town's  higher rates stem, in part, from its dense but relatively low population.

The town does not enjoy economies of scale for its services  — schools,  police and fire protection, public works etc.

The chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen, Jill Sullivan, says it comes down to basic math when comparing Swampscott's rate to that of nearby Marblehead.

Marblehead has one-third more land, one-third more population and double the real estate valuation, she said.

In Swampscott, the owner of a single-family home valued at almost $475,000 will pay about $39 more  in 2011 than the $7,843 in taxes paid in 2010.

The owner of a commercial property valued at almost $475,000 will see an increase of about $70 over the $14,554 paid in 2010.

Rates are per $1,000 of value in the commercial, industrial and personal (CIP) property tax.

Information compiled using Department of Revenue and local assessor's data