What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).

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	Milton	Marblehead
People
Population	28,587Highest	20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Milton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$188,529±$15kHighest 81% above MA	$182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA
	Milton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$933,200±$31kLowest 66% above MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
	Marblehead and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA	$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average
	Marblehead and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,677Highest 61% above MA	$8,309Lowest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2% MA: 62.5%	85.2% MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Highest 19 yrs older than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 8% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Marblehead and Milton 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	#55 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Milton	Marblehead
High school in town	Milton High	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	10.7Lowest
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.