Compare towns
Marblehead vs Salem vs Wayland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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 | Salem | Wayland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,413 |
30,964Highest |
13,914Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45±1.5 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem 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 126% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$224,000±$28kHighest 177% above U.S. |
| 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 184% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$978,400±$36kHighest 194% above U.S. |
| 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±$147Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,475±$603Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309 166% above U.S. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±16Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marblehead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.1%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #18 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Salem School District | Wayland |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | Salem High School | Wayland High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.