What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lenox has the most affordable homes ($467k 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	Lenox	Marblehead
People
Population	5,079Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA	49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Lenox and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA	$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,299Lowest 12% below MA	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 22% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#90 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Lenox	Marblehead
High school in town	Lenox Memorial High	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.6Lowest	10.7Highest
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.