What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

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	Norwell
People
Population	20,413Highest	11,361Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Norwell 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±$28kLowest 75% above MA	$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA
	Norwell 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±$31kHighest 68% above MA	$865,700±$35kLowest 54% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average	$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA
	Norwell 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	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norwell and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	35 minHighest 21% above MA
Work from home	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Marblehead and Norwell 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	#80 of 282 in MA
School district	Marblehead	Norwell
High school in town	Marblehead High	Norwell High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.