Compare towns
Marblehead vs Plainfield vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
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 | Plainfield | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,413Highest |
616Lowest |
20,413Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA |
| Plainfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 13% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 282 in MA | — | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | — | — |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.