Compare towns
Marblehead vs Epping vs Concord vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k median).
Swampscott has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
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 | Epping | Concord | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413Highest |
7,430Lowest |
18,223 |
15,277 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
47.6±2 22% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Concord and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Concord 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Concord and Epping 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 126% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$195,350±$22kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23k 66% above U.S. |
| 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 184% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 264% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41k 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
$2,303±$143 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 166% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,936 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 22% above U.S. |
32 min 23% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #10 of 282 in MA | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Epping School District | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Swampscott |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | Epping High School | Concord Carlisle High | Swampscott High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
9.3Lowest |
11.4 |
11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.