Compare towns

Springfield vs Marblehead vs Bradford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Marblehead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Bradford has the most affordable homes ($342k median).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldMarbleheadBradford
People
Population
1,122Lowest
20,413Highest
1,565
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
49.1±2Lowest
26% above U.S.
50.3±5.2
29% above U.S.
Springfield and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Marblehead and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
26.3%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bradford and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Marblehead and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,893±$19kLowest
25% above U.S.
$182,132±$28kHighest
126% above U.S.
$108,015±$21k
34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$384,100±$50k
15% above U.S.
$943,900±$31kHighest
184% above U.S.
$341,700±$38kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,764±$147Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,507±$206
7% above U.S.
Marblehead and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,946Lowest
91% above U.S.
$8,309Highest
166% above U.S.
$6,307
102% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.5%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.1%±22.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Marblehead and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
33 min
25% above U.S.
32 minLowest
21% above U.S.
Work from home
16.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
34%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±8
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #47 of 282 in MA —
School district — Marblehead Kearsarge Regional School District
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

U.S. 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.