What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).

Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).

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	Wayland	Marblehead
People
Population	13,914Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45±1.5Lowest 13% above MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	24.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wayland and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Marblehead and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	78.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Wayland and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$224,000±$28kHighest 115% above MA	$182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA
	Wayland and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$978,400±$36kHighest 74% above MA	$943,900±$31kLowest 68% above MA
	Wayland and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,475±$603Lowest 16% below MA	$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average
	Marblehead and Wayland 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.8%±16Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead and Wayland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.9%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	35.1%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Wayland 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	#18 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Wayland	Marblehead
High school in town	Wayland High School	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	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.