Compare towns

Marblehead vs Lancaster vs Marblehead

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).

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.

MeasureMarbleheadLancasterMarblehead
People
Population
20,413Highest
8,606Lowest
20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
43.1±4.9Lowest
8% above MA
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
Kids under 18
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.9%±4.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
50.3%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±1.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$134,833±$27kLowest
30% above MA
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$519,100±$60kLowest
8% below MA
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,764±$147Lowest
about the MA average
$2,338±$539Highest
33% above MA
$1,764±$147Lowest
about the MA average
Lancaster and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$7,235Lowest
21% above MA
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
68.3%±36.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Lancaster and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%Highest
MA: 10%
1.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.4%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
85.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1971Highest
7 yrs newer than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
13% above MA
32 minLowest
9% above MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
33.6%±9.1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #47 of 282 in MA #145 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA
School district Marblehead Nashoba —
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 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.