Compare towns

Lexington vs Andover vs Marblehead

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
Andover has the most affordable homes ($856k median).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).

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.

MeasureLexingtonAndoverMarblehead
People
Population
34,295
36,652Highest
20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%
MA: +7.4%
+10.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
47.3±0.8
18% above MA
42.9±1Lowest
7% above MA
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
Marblehead and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.5%±1.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
23.6%±1.8
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Lexington and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.7%±1.8
MA: 17.9%
16%±1.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
Marblehead and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
84.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
75.6%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
78.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±0.7Lowest
MA: 7.9%
8.1%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$238,444±$18kHighest
129% above MA
$172,606±$16kLowest
66% above MA
$182,132±$28k
75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$1,203,100±$35kHighest
114% above MA
$855,600±$22kLowest
52% above MA
$943,900±$31k
68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,891±$233Highest
64% above MA
$2,201±$129
25% above MA
$1,764±$147Lowest
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$8,309Lowest
39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.1%±7.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
39.7%±7.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8
MA: 51.8%
Lexington 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
MA: 10%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.5%
MA: 62.5%
79.9%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1965
1 yr newer than MA
1973Highest
9 yrs newer than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
5% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
36.7%±3Highest
MA: 18.6%
30.4%±2.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
Lexington and Marblehead 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 #2 of 282 in MA #68 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA
School district Lexington Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Marblehead
High school in town Lexington High Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4
12.8Highest
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.