What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).

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.

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

Measure	Marblehead	Wayland
People
Population	20,413Highest	13,914Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.3%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA	45±1.5Lowest 13% above MA
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	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 MA: 17.9%	18.7%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.9%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Wayland 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±$28kLowest 75% above MA	$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA
	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±$31kLowest 68% above MA	$978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA
	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 about the MA average	$1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA
	Marblehead and Wayland 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%	42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead and Wayland 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%	4.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	34%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
	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	#18 of 282 in MA
School district	Marblehead	Wayland
High school in town	Marblehead High	Wayland High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	10.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.