What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has the most affordable homes ($445k median).

Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).

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	Ayer	Marblehead
People
Population	3,098Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±6.9Lowest 5% above MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
	Marblehead and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Marblehead and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Marblehead and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA	$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,911Lowest 18% below MA	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.9%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	19.8%±6.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#113 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Marblehead
High school in town	—	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.7
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.