Compare towns
Marblehead vs Reading vs Walpole 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 most expensive homes ($944k median).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Reading | Walpole | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413Lowest |
25,612 |
26,388 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Reading 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
67.4% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$171,500±$16k 65% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Marblehead and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$687,100±$20k 22% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Walpole and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 39% above MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Reading | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Salem |
| High school in town | — | Reading Memorial High | Walpole High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.