Compare towns

Cochituate vs Marblehead vs Topsfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cochituate has the most people working from home (36.9%).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Topsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

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.

MeasureCochituateMarbleheadTopsfield
People
Population
6,471Lowest
20,413Highest
6,564
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3
15% above MA
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
42.2±1.8Lowest
6% above MA
Marblehead and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.2%±2.7
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.8%±4.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
Topsfield and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±2.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.4%±3.8
MA: 17.9%
Marblehead and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
77%
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
71.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$192,361±$18k
85% above MA
$182,132±$28kLowest
75% above MA
$195,718±$16kHighest
88% above MA
Topsfield and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$906,300±$42k
61% above MA
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$853,400±$40kLowest
52% above MA
Marblehead and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,582±$649
10% below MA
$1,764±$147Highest
about the MA average
$1,115±$538Lowest
37% below MA
Marblehead and Cochituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$8,309Lowest
39% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.2%±14.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
41.9%±40.8
MA: 51.8%
Marblehead and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.6%
MA: 10%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.5%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.6%
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
90.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1957
7 yrs older than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1969Highest
5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% below MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
28 minLowest
5% below MA
Work from home
36.9%±5.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
29.4%±8.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Cochituate and Marblehead 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 #172 of 282 in MA
School district — Marblehead Topsfield
High school in town — Marblehead High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7
—
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.