What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wilmington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).

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	Wilmington	Marblehead
People
Population	23,336Highest	20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±2.2Lowest 6% above MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	23.1%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Wilmington and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Wilmington and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$168,152±$19kLowest 62% above MA	$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA
	Marblehead and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$680,500±$19kLowest 21% above MA	$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,394±$328Highest 36% above MA	$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,704Lowest 29% above MA	$8,309Highest 39% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.9%±2Highest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%	4.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 4% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	19.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#73 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Wilmington	Marblehead
High school in town	Wilmington High	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.1Lowest	10.7Highest
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.