Compare towns
Marblehead vs Needham vs Stoneham
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%).
Stoneham has the most affordable homes ($672k 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 | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,413Lowest |
32,459Highest |
23,355 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,964±$10kLowest 10% above 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 |
$671,900±$26kLowest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,035±$142 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,523Lowest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Marblehead 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% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Lowest 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 | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Stoneham |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
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.