Compare towns

Marblehead vs Douglas vs Marblehead

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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.

MeasureMarbleheadDouglasMarblehead
People
Population
20,413Highest
9,207Lowest
20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
44±2.6Lowest
10% above MA
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
Kids under 18
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.2%±3.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±3.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
41.7%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Douglas and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$152,267±$10kLowest
46% above MA
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$470,600±$29kLowest
16% below MA
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,764±$147Highest
about the MA average
$1,503±$697Lowest
15% below MA
$1,764±$147Highest
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$6,338Lowest
6% above MA
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.5%±8.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
33.9%±17.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.8%Highest
MA: 10%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
83.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minLowest
13% above MA
34 minHighest
16% above MA
33 minLowest
13% above MA
Work from home
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
20.9%±4.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #47 of 282 in MA #177 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA
School district — Douglas Marblehead
High school in town — Douglas High School Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school —
7.2Lowest
10.7Highest
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.