What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Epping	Marblehead
People
Population	7,430Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S.	49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S.
	Marblehead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Marblehead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Marblehead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Epping and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S.	$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S.	$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S.	$1,764±$147Highest 25% above U.S.
	Marblehead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S.	$8,309Highest 166% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Epping and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minLowest 22% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Marblehead and Epping 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	#77 of 120 in NH	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Epping School District	Marblehead
High school in town	Epping High School	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.