What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marblehead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k 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.

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

Measure	Marblehead	Ashfield
People
Population	20,413Highest	1,893Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA	58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	52%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA	$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA	$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average	$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,309Highest 39% above MA	$5,197Lowest 13% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ashfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%	9.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	30 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#47 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Marblehead	Mohawk Trail
High school in town	Marblehead High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	—
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.