Compare towns
Beverly vs Marblehead vs Stoneham vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the most affordable homes ($650k median).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Beverly | Marblehead | Stoneham | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
20,413Lowest |
23,355 |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
39.3±1.6 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kLowest about the MA average |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kLowest 16% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$673,500±$17k 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Woburn and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Marblehead | Stoneham | Woburn |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Marblehead High | Stoneham High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.