Compare towns
Marblehead vs Wenham vs Wayland
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).
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Wayland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,413Highest |
4,929Lowest |
13,914 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
45±1.5 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wayland and Marblehead 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% |
14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Wayland 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% |
70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA |
$194,781±$33k 87% above MA |
$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA |
| Wayland and Wenham 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 |
$885,400±$48kLowest 58% above MA |
$978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA |
| Wayland and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
— | $1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA |
| Marblehead and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8 MA: 51.8% |
42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead and Wenham 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% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wayland 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hamilton-Wenham | Wayland |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.9 |
| 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.