Compare towns

Marblehead vs Lee vs Marblehead

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k 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.

MeasureMarbleheadLeeMarblehead
People
Population
20,413Highest
5,719Lowest
20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-2.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±2Lowest
23% above MA
55.2±5.8Highest
38% above MA
49.1±2Lowest
23% above MA
Lee and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
12.6%±5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
22.7%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
33.4%±6.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
22.7%±2.5Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
44.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5%±2.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Lee 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
$83,750±$13kLowest
19% below MA
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$352,700±$19kLowest
37% below MA
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,764±$147Highest
about the MA average
$1,375±$212Lowest
22% below MA
$1,764±$147Highest
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$3,980Lowest
34% below MA
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.3%±21.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Lee and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
7.2%Highest
MA: 10%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
71.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1959Highest
5 yrs older than MA
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
13% above MA
18 minLowest
38% below MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
16.4%±7.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #47 of 282 in MA #209 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA
School district Marblehead Lee —
High school in town Marblehead High Lee Middle/High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Highest
9.2Lowest
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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.