Compare towns
Rowley vs Marblehead vs Hatfield vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Pelham has the youngest population (median age 45).
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 | Rowley | Marblehead | Hatfield | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,708 |
20,413Highest |
3,325 |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±16.7 16% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
45±8.4Lowest 13% above MA |
| Marblehead and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±6.9 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6 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+ | 23.3%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±5.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,622±$17k 5% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $614,800±$39k 9% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,663±$674 6% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA |
| Marblehead and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,865 15% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$7,472 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±45.1 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.1% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 15% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.9%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4 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 | #214 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Marblehead | Hatfield | Pelham |
| High school in town | — | Marblehead High | Smith Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
6.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.