Compare towns
Russell vs Marblehead vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Russell has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Russell | Marblehead | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,197Lowest |
20,413Highest |
1,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±7.6 19% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
45.9±3.7Lowest 15% above MA |
| Marblehead and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±2.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Russell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.4% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Russell and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$24k 5% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$89,390±$6kLowest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $303,300±$32k 46% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,104±$71 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,104 15% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,522Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chester and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.6% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #47 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Marblehead | Gateway |
| High school in town | — | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.