Compare towns
Needham vs Hull vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hull has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
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.
| Measure | Needham | Hull | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Highest |
10,138Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$115,485±$14kLowest 11% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Needham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$646,000±$38kLowest 15% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Needham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,089Lowest about the MA average |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hull | Marblehead |
| High school in town | — | Hull High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.8Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.