Compare towns
Marblehead vs North Reading vs Wayland
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).
North Reading has the most affordable homes ($711k median).
Wayland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | North Reading | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,413Highest |
15,765 |
13,914Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
43±2.8Lowest 8% above MA |
45±1.5 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wayland and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Wayland 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% |
56.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| North Reading and Wayland 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 |
$147,768±$25kLowest 42% above MA |
$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA |
| Wayland 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 |
$710,500±$24kLowest 26% above MA |
$978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA |
| Wayland and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA |
| North Reading and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$9,693 62% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wayland 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 | #33 of 282 in MA | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | North Reading | Wayland |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | North Reading High | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
10.1Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.