Compare towns
Westford vs Marblehead vs Walpole
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($687k 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 | Westford | Marblehead | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,690 |
20,413Lowest |
26,388Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±1.2 7% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
40.9±1.2Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 25.6%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Westford and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 73.9% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Westford and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $187,198±$10kHighest 80% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA |
| Westford and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $748,500±$32k 33% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,436±$422Highest 38% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,205±$222 25% above MA |
| Westford and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,695Highest 62% above MA |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$8,523 42% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53%±8Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Westford and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 27%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Walpole 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 | #20 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Westford | Marblehead | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole |
| High school in town | Westford Academy | Marblehead High | Walpole High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.3 |
| 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.