Compare towns
Marblehead vs Lenox vs Hingham vs Salem
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 homeowners (85.2%).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Lenox | Hingham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413 |
5,079Lowest |
24,283 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2 23% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
48.4±2.4 21% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham 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% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.7% MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Lenox 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 |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Marblehead and Hingham 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 |
$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Hingham and Salem 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 |
$5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Hingham 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Lenox | Hingham | Salem |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | Lenox Memorial High | Hingham High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
7.6Lowest |
12.9Highest |
9.8 |
| 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.