Compare towns

Douglas vs Marblehead vs Thompson

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k median).

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.

MeasureDouglasMarbleheadThompson
People
Population
9,207Lowest
20,413Highest
9,337
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
44±2.6Lowest
13% above U.S.
49.1±2
26% above U.S.
54.1±2.2Highest
39% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.2%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Marblehead and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Thompson and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Douglas and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$152,267±$10k
89% above U.S.
$182,132±$28kHighest
126% above U.S.
$93,629±$18kLowest
16% above U.S.
Marblehead and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$470,600±$29k
41% above U.S.
$943,900±$31kHighest
184% above U.S.
$291,900±$24kLowest
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,503±$697
6% above U.S.
$1,764±$147Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,012±$344Lowest
28% below U.S.
Marblehead and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,338
103% above U.S.
$8,309Highest
166% above U.S.
$3,822Lowest
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.9%±17.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.5%±8.8
U.S.: 51.1%
54%±18.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Thompson and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
33 min
25% above U.S.
32 minLowest
20% above U.S.
Work from home
20.9%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
34%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #177 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA #130 of 149 in CT
School district Douglas Marblehead Thompson School District
High school in town Douglas High School Marblehead High Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school
7.2Lowest
10.7Highest
7.9
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.