Compare towns
Marblehead vs Norwell 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).
Norwell has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
Wayland has the highest household income ($224k).
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 | Norwell | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,413Highest |
11,361Lowest |
13,914 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
45±1.5 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Wayland 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% |
16.1%±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% |
69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Norwell 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±$28kLowest 75% above MA |
$188,699±$25k 82% above MA |
$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA |
| Wayland and Norwell 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 |
$865,700±$35kLowest 54% 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 |
$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,475±$603Lowest 16% below 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.8%±16Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
87.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 21% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
27.1%±4.5Lowest 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 | #80 of 282 in MA | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Norwell | Wayland |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | Norwell High | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.7Highest |
10.9 |
| 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.