What stands out worked out from the figures below

Litchfield has the most affordable homes ($485k median).

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	Litchfield	Marblehead
People
Population	8,499Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.7Lowest 11% above U.S.	49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	22.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Litchfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Litchfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$162,036±$11kLowest 101% above U.S.	$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S.
	Marblehead and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$485,000±$18kLowest 46% above U.S.	$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,138±$406Highest 51% above U.S.	$1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S.
	Litchfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,273Lowest 165% above U.S.	$8,309Highest 166% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	81.5%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Litchfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	21%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#53 of 120 in NH	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Litchfield School District	Marblehead
High school in town	Campbell High School	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	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.