What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).

Marlow has the most affordable homes ($325k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marblehead	Marlow
People
Population	20,413Highest	855Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±2Lowest 26% above U.S.	52.8±11.7Highest 36% above U.S.
	Marlow 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 U.S.: 22%	20.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Marblehead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.5%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Marlow 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Marblehead and Marlow 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 126% above U.S.	$110,455±$12kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S.	$325,400±$49kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,764±$147Highest 25% above U.S.	$1,154±$160Lowest 18% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,309Highest 166% above U.S.	$5,826Lowest 87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.5%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	18.2%±95.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Marblehead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 25% above U.S.	35 minHighest 33% above U.S.
Work from home	34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#47 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Marblehead	Marlow School District
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	4 photos →

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.