What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

Marblehead has the most expensive 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	Pelham	Marblehead
People
Population	14,449Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S.	49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Marblehead and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$135,956±$19kLowest 68% above U.S.	$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S.
	Marblehead and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,600±$27kLowest 66% above U.S.	$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,764±$147Highest 25% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.	$8,309Lowest 166% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#48 of 120 in NH	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Pelham School District	Marblehead
High school in town	Pelham High School	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.