What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

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	Bedford	Marblehead
People
Population	14,727Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Marblehead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Marblehead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Bedford and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,400±$23kLowest 66% above MA	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
	Marblehead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$898,500±$43kLowest 60% above MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
	Marblehead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,622±$327Highest 49% above MA	$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$8,309Lowest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 11% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	32.4%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Marblehead and Bedford 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	#7 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Bedford	Marblehead
High school in town	Bedford High	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	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.