Compare towns

Marblehead vs Chilmark vs Duxbury

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 most people working from home (34%).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Duxbury has the most affordable homes ($875k 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.

MeasureMarbleheadChilmarkDuxbury
People
Population
20,413Highest
1,578Lowest
16,185
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+40%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.8%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±2
23% above MA
53.6±8.1Highest
34% above MA
47.6±2.3Lowest
19% above MA
Chilmark and Marblehead 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%
16.7%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.5%±2.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Duxbury 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%
36.2%±12.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
24.5%±3.5
MA: 17.9%
Chilmark and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
68.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
70.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1
MA: 7.9%
2.7%±2.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
Duxbury 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±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$168,750±$28kLowest
62% above MA
$176,583±$29k
70% above MA
Marblehead and Duxbury 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
$1,895,300±$281kHighest
237% above MA
$874,600±$35kLowest
56% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,764±$147
about the MA average
$2,750±$2kHighest
56% above MA
$1,591±$2kLowest
10% below MA
Chilmark 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
$4,485Lowest
25% below MA
$9,518Highest
59% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.5%±8.8
MA: 51.8%
30.8%±59.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.8%±31.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Duxbury 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%
4.1%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.1%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89.4%
MA: 62.5%
91.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1984Highest
20 yrs newer than MA
1976
12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
13% above MA
32 minLowest
8% above MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
25.7%±11
MA: 18.6%
25.1%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Marblehead and Chilmark 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 — #32 of 282 in MA
School district Marblehead Up-Island Regional Duxbury
High school in town Marblehead High None in town Duxbury High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Highest
—
9.9Lowest
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.