What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Norwell	Marblehead
People
Population	11,361Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Norwell and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$188,699±$25kHighest 82% above MA	$182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA
	Norwell and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$865,700±$35kLowest 54% above MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA	$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average
	Norwell and Marblehead 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	$8,309Lowest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Norwell and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	4.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 21% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Marblehead and Norwell 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	#80 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Norwell	Marblehead
High school in town	Norwell High	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	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.