Compare towns
Marblehead vs Ayer vs Hingham 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).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Wayland has the highest household income ($224k).
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 | Ayer | Hingham | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413 |
8,645Lowest |
24,283Highest |
13,914 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
45±1.5 13% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wayland and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Wayland 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 |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA |
| Wayland 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 |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$978,400±$36k 74% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,475±$603 16% below MA |
| Hingham and Marblehead 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 |
$5,057Lowest 16% below 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%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Ayer Shirley School District | Hingham | Wayland |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Hingham High | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.5 |
12.9Highest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.