Compare towns
Bedford vs Marblehead vs Ipswich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Ipswich has the most affordable homes ($745k 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.
| Measure | Bedford | Marblehead | Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,727 |
20,413Highest |
13,930Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.6Lowest 11% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
47.2±3.5 18% above MA |
| Marblehead and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest 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% |
21.9%±2.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Bedford and Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,400±$23k 66% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$138,750±$16kLowest 33% 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±$43k 60% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$745,400±$40kLowest 33% 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±$147 about the MA average |
$1,598±$90Lowest 9% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$7,960Lowest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ipswich and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | #101 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bedford | Marblehead | Ipswich |
| High school in town | Bedford High | Marblehead High | Ipswich High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
10.7 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.