What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).

Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marblehead	Andover
People
Population	20,413Lowest	36,652Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA	42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Andover 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%	16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA	$172,606±$16kLowest 66% above MA
	Marblehead and Andover 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	$855,600±$22kLowest 52% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average	$2,201±$129Highest 25% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,309Lowest 39% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%	39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead and Andover 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%	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	30.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Marblehead and Andover 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	#68 of 282 in MA
School district	Marblehead	Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Marblehead High	Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.