What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).

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	Belmont	Marblehead
People
Population	27,175Highest	20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Belmont and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Marblehead and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	80.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Belmont and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA	$182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA
	Belmont and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA	$943,900±$31kLowest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,527±$105Highest 43% 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	45.6%±6.2Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest MA: 10%	4.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1944Highest 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	31.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Marblehead and Belmont 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	#3 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Belmont	Marblehead
High school in town	Belmont High	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	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.