What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scituate has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).

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	Scituate	Marblehead
People
Population	19,365Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±3.1Lowest 18% above MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
	Marblehead and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Marblehead and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Marblehead and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Scituate and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$136,732±$16kLowest 32% above MA	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$847,600±$25kLowest 51% above MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,609±$311Lowest 9% below MA	$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average
	Marblehead and Scituate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,807Highest 47% above MA	$8,309Lowest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.7%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Scituate and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	4.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 31% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	28%±4Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Marblehead and Scituate 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	#43 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Scituate	Marblehead
High school in town	Scituate High School	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.