Manchester-by-the-Sea vs Marblehead
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
On schools these two are genuinely close — same tier and within five MCAS percentiles of each other — so the schools should not decide it. Price and commute should.
On tax, look past the rate: Marblehead works out roughly $1,400 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Manchester-by-the-Sea if the commute matters most, or you want a train.
All Manchester-by-the-Sea numbers →Choose Marblehead if you want the lower price.
All Marblehead numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsEven, 1 each of 10
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | Marblehead | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | strong schoolsT2 |
| MCAS achievement | 82nd | 82nd |
| Student growth | 52nd | 54th |
| Graduation rate | 97.4% | 97.6% |
| Niche district rank | 51st of 236 | 44th of 236 |
| SchoolDigger rank | 33rd of 361 | 93rd of 361 |
| State accountability | Substantial progress toward targets | Substantial progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $27,395 | $21,971 |
| Schools in the district | 3 | 4 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 12 | 13 |
What a home costsMarblehead ahead on 6 of 8
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | Marblehead | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $1.5MT4 | $1.35MT3 |
| 3BR townhouse | $1.05M | $900k |
| 2BR condo | $775k | $665k |
| 3BR home | $1.13M | $997k |
| 5+ BR home | $2.72M | $1.94M |
| 3BR rent | $3,223/mo | $3,343/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $379k | $341k |
| 10-year price growth | 6.3% a year | 5.9% a year |
What you pay the townMarblehead ahead on 1 of 4
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | Marblehead | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $8.70T1 | $8.56T1 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$13,000 | ≈$11,600 |
| Town spending per resident | $6,963 | $5,123 |
| Share of budget on schools | 51% | 45% |
Getting to workEven, 1 each of 3
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | Marblehead | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 54 minT3 | 56 minT3 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~59 min to terminal | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 21 mi | 15 mi |
Before kindergartenMarblehead ahead on 3 of 4
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | Marblehead | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 4 | 20 |
| Child care places | 160 | 1,273 |
| Centers vs family programs | 4 centers | 15 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 18 | 243 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Manchester-by-the-Sea | Marblehead | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,395 | 20,441 |
| Energy | 5/10 | 6/10 |
| Compact center | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Family amenities | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Culture | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Gathering places | 7/10 | 8/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
