Compare towns
Norwell vs Marblehead vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwell has the most kids (28.5% under 18).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Norwell | Marblehead | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,361 |
20,413Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±1.4Lowest about the MA average |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
42.2±1.8 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 28.5%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Norwell and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest 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±$25k 82% above MA |
$182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Topsfield and Norwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $865,700±$35k 54% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$853,400±$40kLowest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,215±$336Highest 26% above MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±24.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 21% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 27.1%±4.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwell | Marblehead | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Norwell High | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| 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.