Compare towns
Marblehead vs Needham vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k 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 | Needham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,413Lowest |
32,459 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Needham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Salem |
| High school in town | — | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.