Compare towns

Marblehead vs Dover vs Marblehead

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).

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.

MeasureMarbleheadDoverMarblehead
People
Population
20,413Highest
2,308Lowest
20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
47.5±4Lowest
19% above MA
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
Kids under 18
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.9%±4.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±3.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
78.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
83.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
9.4%±4.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Dover 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±$28kLowest
75% above MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$182,132±$28kLowest
75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$943,900±$31kLowest
68% above MA
$1,308,300±$149kHighest
133% above MA
$943,900±$31kLowest
68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,764±$147
about the MA average
—
$1,764±$147
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,309Lowest
39% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$8,309Lowest
39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Dover and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%Highest
MA: 10%
3.3%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
97.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1967Highest
3 yrs newer than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minLowest
13% above MA
37 minHighest
26% above MA
33 minLowest
13% above MA
Work from home
34%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
37.4%±8.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Dover 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 #47 of 282 in MA #1 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA
School district — — Marblehead
High school in town — — Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.7
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.