What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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	Norwood
People
Population	20,413Lowest	31,542Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	20%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Marblehead and Norwood 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%	17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	55.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Norwood 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±$28kHighest 75% above MA	$107,030±$11kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA	$651,700±$13kLowest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average	$2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,309Highest 39% above MA	$6,111Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.3%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norwood and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%	8.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	54%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	30 minLowest 4% above MA
Work from home	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#47 of 282 in MA	#176 of 282 in MA
School district	Marblehead	Norwood
High school in town	Marblehead High	Norwood High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.