What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most affordable homes ($376k median).

Marblehead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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	Northfield	Marblehead
People
Population	2,872Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±4.2Lowest 22% above MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
	Marblehead and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Northfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Northfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,375±$10kLowest about the MA average	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA	$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Lowest 23% below MA	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 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	16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#231 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Pioneer Valley	Marblehead
High school in town	Pioneer Valley Regional	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7	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.