Compare towns
Wenham vs Marblehead vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Groton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham | Marblehead | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,929Lowest |
20,413Highest |
11,390 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
41.4±2.7 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
28.3%±4.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Groton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.8% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
$182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA |
$192,958±$27k 86% above MA |
| Wenham and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $885,400±$48k 58% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$743,400±$46kLowest 32% above MA |
| Marblehead and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,458±$335Lowest 17% below MA |
| Marblehead and Groton 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 | 43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.8%±17 MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.4%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
27.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Wenham 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 | #74 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hamilton-Wenham | Marblehead | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | None in town | Marblehead High | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| 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.