Compare towns
Millis vs Marblehead vs Acton vs Norfolk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Millis has the most affordable homes ($604k median).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Norfolk has the most homeowners (94.9%).
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 | Millis | Marblehead | Acton | Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,888Lowest |
20,413 |
24,155Highest |
11,673 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±3 16% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Marblehead and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norfolk and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Millis and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $155,996±$9kLowest 50% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
| Norfolk and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$31kLowest 7% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$725,200±$34k 29% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
| Norfolk and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,344 56% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,651 61% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Millis | Marblehead | Acton-Boxborough | King Philip · Millis |
| High school in town | Millis High School | Marblehead High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| 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.