What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nashua has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).

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	Nashua	Marblehead
People
Population	91,294Highest	20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average	49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Marblehead and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Nashua and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S.	$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S.	$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,737±$41Lowest 23% above U.S.	$1,764±$147Highest 25% above U.S.
	Marblehead and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,799Lowest 118% above U.S.	$8,309Highest 166% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.5%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Marblehead and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	17.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#67 of 120 in NH	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashua School District	Marblehead
High school in town	Nashua High School South	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.