What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Arlington	Marblehead
People
Population	46,350Highest	20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	20.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Marblehead and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Arlington and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$150,701±$5kLowest 45% above MA	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
	Marblehead and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$933,800±$23kLowest 66% above MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
	Marblehead and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,082±$76Highest 18% above MA	$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,604Highest 60% above MA	$8,309Lowest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Highest 19 yrs older than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 11% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Arlington and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#29 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Arlington	Marblehead
High school in town	Arlington High	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.