Compare towns
Stow vs Marblehead vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most affordable homes ($730k median).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Topsfield has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Stow | Marblehead | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165 |
20,413Highest |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
| Marblehead and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
$182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kLowest 30% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$853,400±$40k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Stow and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Marblehead 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Marblehead | Topsfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Marblehead High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.