Compare towns
Marblehead vs Dalton vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Marblehead | Dalton | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,413Highest |
6,256Lowest |
20,413Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA |
| Dalton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | Marblehead |
| High school in town | — | Wahconah Regional High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
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.