What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).

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	Marlborough	Marblehead
People
Population	41,647Highest	20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	20.8%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Marblehead and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Marlborough and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,968±$9kLowest 12% below MA	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,871±$123Highest 6% above MA	$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average
	Marlborough and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,747Lowest 4% below MA	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marlborough and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#215 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough	Marblehead
High school in town	Assabet Valley Vocational High School	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	10.7Highest
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.