Compare towns
Concord vs Everett vs Needham vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most people working from home (36.1%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Concord | Everett | Needham | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,223Lowest |
50,045Highest |
32,459 |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2 19% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $195,350±$22k 88% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Needham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Concord and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Concord and Needham 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Concord 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Everett | Needham | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Everett High | Needham High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.1Highest |
11.9 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.