Compare towns
Peru vs Marblehead vs Blandford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Marblehead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Blandford has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Peru | Marblehead | Blandford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 630Lowest |
20,413Highest |
1,156 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA |
52.9±4.3Highest 32% above MA |
| Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.8%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Blandford and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marblehead and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$91,902±$13k 12% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$287,900±$18k 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,047±$459Lowest 41% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,805 36% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$3,641Lowest 39% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.4%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead and Blandford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
5.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 7% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
36 minHighest 22% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.8%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #47 of 282 in MA | — |
| 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.