What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).

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	Hampden	Marblehead
People
Population	7,896Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	22.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Marblehead and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S.	$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,764±$147Highest 25% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$8,309Highest 166% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.5%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#6 of 133 in ME	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 22	Marblehead
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	10.7Lowest
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.