Compare towns
Marblehead vs Lancaster vs Sutton 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 population (median age 49.1).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Concord has the most expensive homes ($1210k 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.
| Measure | Marblehead | Lancaster | Sutton | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413Highest |
8,606Lowest |
9,452 |
18,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
47.6±2 19% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 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%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
79.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Concord and Sutton 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 |
$134,833±$27kLowest 30% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above 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 |
$519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$2,338±$539 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,631±$166Highest 49% above MA |
| Concord and Lancaster 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 |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Lowest 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Nashoba | Sutton | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | None in town | Sutton High School | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.