Compare towns
Marblehead vs Stow vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 | Stow | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,413Highest |
7,165Lowest |
20,413Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA |
| Stow 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 |
$729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Stow 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 |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%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 |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Nashoba | — |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | None in town | — |
| 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.