Compare towns
Concord vs Stow 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 expensive homes ($1210k median).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 | Stow | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,223 |
7,165Lowest |
20,413Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2 19% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% 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%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Concord and Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
$182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA |
| Concord and Stow 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 |
$729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Concord 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% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minLowest 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Concord 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Nashoba | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | None in town | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.