What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($437k median).

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

Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Williamstown	Marblehead
People
Population	9,150Lowest	20,413Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±6.9Lowest 6% below MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	15.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	24.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Williamstown and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,650±$25kLowest about the MA average	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$437,100±$39kLowest 22% below MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,584±$292Lowest 10% below MA	$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average
	Marblehead and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,290Lowest 12% below MA	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.9%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	16 minLowest 45% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	27.3%±5.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Marblehead and Williamstown 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	#45 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Mount Greylock	Marblehead
High school in town	Mt Greylock Regional High	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	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.