Compare towns
Marblehead vs Needham vs Windham vs Swampscott
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Swampscott has the most renters (24.1% 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 | Needham | Windham | Swampscott |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413 |
32,459Highest |
16,038 |
15,277Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.5±3.5 14% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marblehead and Swampscott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Swampscott 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 126% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$134,386±$23kLowest 66% above U.S. |
| Needham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kLowest 117% above U.S. |
$771,100±$41k 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,303±$143 63% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 166% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,936Lowest 154% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swampscott and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marblehead and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #76 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Needham | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | Needham High | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.9 |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.