Compare towns
Pelham vs Marblehead vs Wendell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Wendell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Pelham | Marblehead | Wendell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,335 |
20,413Highest |
850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
47.1±8.8 18% above MA |
| Marblehead and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64.8% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Wendell and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$65,288±$14kLowest 37% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$290,300±$31kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,239±$519 30% below MA |
| Marblehead and Wendell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,472 25% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,519Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.6%±40.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Wendell and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
21.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 21% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.8%±7.4 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.8%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Pelham 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 | — | #47 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Pelham | Marblehead | New Salem-Wendell |
| High school in town | None in town | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
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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.