What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marblehead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($437k median).

Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Williamstown
People
Population	20,413Highest	9,150Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA	37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA
Kids under 18	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Williamstown 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 MA: 47.3%	70.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA	$106,650±$25kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA	$437,100±$39kLowest 22% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average	$1,584±$292Lowest 10% below MA
	Marblehead and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,309Highest 39% above MA	$5,290Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%	48.9%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead and Williamstown 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%	11.2%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	73.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA	1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	16 minLowest 45% below MA
Work from home	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	27.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Marblehead and Williamstown 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	#45 of 282 in MA
School district	Marblehead	Mount Greylock
High school in town	Marblehead High	Mt Greylock Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.4Highest
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.