Compare towns
Marblehead vs Worcester vs Marblehead vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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.
| Measure | Marblehead | Worcester | Marblehead | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,413Lowest |
207,055Highest |
20,413Lowest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
| Salem and Marblehead 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 |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | South High Community | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
14.6Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.