What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

Marblehead has the most affordable homes ($944k 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.

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

Measure	Winchester	Marblehead
People
Population	23,406Highest	20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA	49.1±2Highest 23% above MA
Kids under 18	27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%	22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	79.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	78.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Winchester and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA	$182,132±$28kLowest 75% above MA
	Winchester and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA	$943,900±$31kLowest 68% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA	$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average
	Winchester and Marblehead 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
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marblehead and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest MA: 10%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA	1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 8% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	33.8%±3Lowest MA: 18.6%	34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Marblehead and Winchester 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	#11 of 282 in MA	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Winchester	Marblehead
High school in town	Winchester High School	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.