Compare towns
Chilmark vs Marblehead vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Marblehead has the most affordable homes ($944k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Chilmark | Marblehead | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,578Lowest |
20,413 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Chilmark and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $168,750±$28kLowest 62% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Needham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$943,900±$31kLowest 68% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Chilmark and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 8% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Needham 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 | — | #47 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Up-Island Regional | Marblehead | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | Marblehead High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.