What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).

Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Marblehead	Thompson
People
Population	20,413Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	49.1±2Lowest 26% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Marblehead and Thompson 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.	$93,629±$18kLowest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S.	$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,764±$147Highest 25% above U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,309Highest 166% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson 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%	5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#47 of 282 in MA	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Marblehead	Thompson School District
High school in town	Marblehead High	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.