Compare towns

Marblehead vs Ware vs Concord

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Concord has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

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.

MeasureMarbleheadWareConcord
People
Population
20,413Highest
10,048Lowest
18,223
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%
MA: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
43.1±4.7Lowest
8% above MA
47.6±2
19% above MA
Marblehead and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.3%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.6%±2.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
Concord 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
MA: 17.9%
20.6%±3.4Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23.7%±2.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Concord 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%
MA: 47.3%
24%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
79.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
Concord and Ware 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
75% above MA
$67,475±$15kLowest
35% below MA
$195,350±$22kHighest
88% above MA
Concord 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
68% above MA
$289,700±$28kLowest
48% below MA
$1,210,000±$72kHighest
115% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,764±$147
about the MA average
$1,043±$109Lowest
41% below MA
$2,631±$166Highest
49% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,309
39% above MA
$4,237Lowest
29% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
53.2%±10.5
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
MA: 10%
11.8%Highest
MA: 10%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
72.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
75.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944Lowest
20 yrs older than MA
1960
4 yrs older than MA
1969Highest
5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
13% above MA
28 minLowest
about the MA average
32 min
11% above MA
Work from home
34%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
36.1%±4.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
Concord 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 #267 of 282 in MA #10 of 282 in MA
School district Marblehead Ware Concord · Concord-Carlisle
High school in town Marblehead High Ware Junior/Senior High School Concord Carlisle High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
11.1
11.4Highest
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.