Compare towns

Marblehead vs Temple vs Duxbury

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 most people working from home (34%).
Temple has the most affordable homes ($401k median).
Duxbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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.

MeasureMarbleheadTempleDuxbury
People
Population
20,413Highest
1,363Lowest
16,185
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±2
26% above U.S.
49.5±7.3Highest
27% above U.S.
47.6±2.3Lowest
22% above U.S.
Temple and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.3%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
14.3%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
Duxbury and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.7%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.5%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Duxbury 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
U.S.: 35.7%
36.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
70.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.7%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Duxbury 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
126% above U.S.
$94,107±$15kLowest
17% above U.S.
$176,583±$29k
119% above U.S.
Marblehead and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$943,900±$31kHighest
184% above U.S.
$401,000±$27kLowest
21% above U.S.
$874,600±$35k
163% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,764±$147Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,169±$523Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,591±$2k
13% above U.S.
Marblehead and Duxbury 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.
$6,983Lowest
124% above U.S.
$9,518Highest
205% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.5%±8.8
U.S.: 51.1%
30.2%±54.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.8%±31.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Duxbury 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
U.S.: 12.5%
9.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minLowest
25% above U.S.
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
33 minLowest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
34%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.1%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #47 of 282 in MA — #32 of 282 in MA
School district Marblehead Contoocook Valley School District Duxbury
High school in town Marblehead High None in town Duxbury High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Highest
—
9.9Lowest
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.