What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

Marblehead has the most affordable 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	Needham	Marblehead
People
Population	32,459Highest	20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Needham and Marblehead 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	$182,132±$28kLowest 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	$943,900±$31kLowest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA	$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$8,309Lowest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Needham and Marblehead 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%	4.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Lowest 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	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Marblehead
High school in town	—	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.7
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.