What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).

Marblehead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).

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	Westfield	Marblehead
People
Population	40,378Highest	20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.9±1.8Lowest about the MA average	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Marblehead and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
	Marblehead and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	33.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,753±$6kLowest 16% below MA	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$325,100±$11kLowest 42% below MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA	$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,746Lowest 21% below MA	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	8.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#197 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Westfield	Marblehead
High school in town	Westfield High	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	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.