Compare towns
Lexington vs Marblehead vs Ware
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lexington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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.
| Measure | Lexington | Marblehead | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
20,413 |
10,048Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% 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% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington and Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Marblehead | Ware |
| High school in town | Lexington High | Marblehead High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.