What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairhaven has the most affordable homes ($447k median).

Marblehead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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	Fairhaven	Marblehead
People
Population	15,903Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Lowest 21% above MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
	Marblehead and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Fairhaven and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Marblehead and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,965±$19kLowest 8% below MA	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA	$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Highest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Fairhaven and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#126 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Fairhaven	Marblehead
High school in town	Fairhaven High	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.