What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).

Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).

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	Ashland	Marblehead
People
Population	18,873Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±1.4Lowest 5% above MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Marblehead and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Marblehead and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ashland and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$127,539±$11kLowest 23% above MA	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$611,700±$18kLowest 9% above MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,452±$298Highest 39% above MA	$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,444Lowest 24% above MA	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.2%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashland and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.5%Lowest MA: 10%	4.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	22.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#42 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Ashland	Marblehead
High school in town	Ashland High	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	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.