Compare towns
Marblehead vs Ashfield vs Concord
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 housing (typical home built 1944).
Ashfield has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Concord has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Ashfield | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,413Highest |
1,893Lowest |
18,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2 23% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
47.6±2Lowest 19% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Concord and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3% MA: 47.3% |
52%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Marblehead 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 |
$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA |
$195,350±$22kHighest 88% above MA |
| Concord 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 |
$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 39% above MA |
$5,197Lowest 13% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Concord 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 | — | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Mohawk Trail | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | None in town | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| 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.