Compare towns
Washington vs Marblehead vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Marblehead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k 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.
| Measure | Washington | Marblehead | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
20,413Highest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Marblehead and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,764±$147 about the MA average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #47 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Marblehead | — |
| High school in town | — | Marblehead High | — |
| 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.