Compare towns
Rowley vs Maynard vs Marblehead vs Boylston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rowley has the oldest population (median age 50).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Boylston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
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 | Maynard | Marblehead | Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,251 |
10,712 |
20,413Highest |
4,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
48.2±2.3 21% above MA |
| Rowley and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Rowley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 56.8% MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,734±$32k 28% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$140,962±$28k 36% above MA |
| Marblehead and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $667,300±$52k 19% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$578,600±$47k about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,603±$520Lowest 9% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA |
| Boylston and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$7,266Lowest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±16.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 3% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #72 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Maynard | Marblehead | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | None in town | Maynard High | Marblehead High | Tahanto Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
10.7 |
11.1Highest |
| 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.