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City · 20,413 residents · Essex County, Massachusetts

Marblehead , Massachusetts

In Marblehead, a typical home is worth $943,900 and typical rent is $1,764 a month. Compared with all of Essex County, typical household income is 79% higher, the typical home value is 52% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 22 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $943,900

    52% above the county

    68% above Massachusetts

    • Marblehead
    • Essex
    • Massachusetts

  • Typical rent

    $1,764a month

    About the same as the county

    About the same as Massachusetts

    • Marblehead
    • Essex
    • Massachusetts

  • Typical household income

    $182,132a year

    79% above the county

    75% above Massachusetts

    • Marblehead
    • Essex
    • Massachusetts

  • Households that own their home

    85%

    22 points above the county

    23 points above Massachusetts

    • Marblehead
    • Essex
    • Massachusetts

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$1,043,923
3.1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,967 a month
2.2% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Marblehead is in Essex County. The FHA loan limit ($962,550 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Essex County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Marblehead apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. The typical household income in Marblehead is $182,132, 79% more than in Essex County as a whole ($101,883).

  2. The typical home in Marblehead is worth $943,900, 52% more than in Essex County as a whole ($619,100).

  3. 85% of households in Marblehead own their home, against 64% in Essex County.

  4. Nearby, in Lynn, the typical home value is $510,100: 46% less than in Marblehead ($943,900).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Marblehead

What homes there are in Marblehead, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses, standing on their own, make up 77% of homes here, against 50% in Essex County.

Year built

Homes in Marblehead are older: the typical year built is 1944; in Essex County, 1960.

Homes in Marblehead are bigger: 73% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Essex County, 56%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$3,971 a month

Essex County: $2,867 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,347 a month

Essex County: $1,106 a month

Owners with a mortgage

68%

Essex County: 70%

Owning costs more in Marblehead: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $3,971 a month; in Essex County, $2,867. Without one, $1,347.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Homes in Marblehead gained value more slowly than in Essex County: 40% since 2015–2019, against 51%.

The typical rent in Marblehead rose 12% over the same time; in Essex County, it rose 42%.

Here income gained ground: typical income rose 48%, against +40% for home values and +12% for rent.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureMarbleheadEssex CountyMassachusettsUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate2.6%3.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.3%0.6%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.8%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.452.542.442.53
Drive alone 51%68%61%69%
Carpool 5%7%7%9%
Public transit 5%4%7%3%
Walk or bike 3%3%5%3%
Work from home 34%16%19%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

A household in Marblehead has 2.45 people on average, about the same as in Essex County (2.54).

Working from home is more common in Marblehead: 34%, against 16% in Essex County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Marblehead?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Marblehead, worth $943,900, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 52% of the typical household income in Marblehead, which is $182,132 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $339,997 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Essex County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Marblehead. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $33,037 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$7,933

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$926,803
Total interest
$1,333,452
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $15,940 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $4,250 a month

  • Tight

    $4,250 to $5,464 a month

  • Hard

    more than $5,464 a month

    Your payment · 52%

Compared with the typical household income in Marblehead ($182,132 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$7,933
Principal & interest$6,278
Property tax$692
Home insurance$393
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$569

You need at least $33,037 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Marblehead and Essex County

Marblehead is in Essex County, Massachusetts. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Marblehead's own numbers

Typical home value
$943,900
Typical monthly rent
$1,764
Typical yearly household income
$182,132
Households that own their home
85%
Effective property tax rate
0.88%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Essex County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$962,550
Conventional limit, one unit
$962,550
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,367–$3,008
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+50%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.8%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Essex County.

Everything about Essex County

Buying

Buying a home in Marblehead

A typical home in Marblehead is worth $943,900: 52% above the county and 68% above Massachusetts. With the typical household income in Marblehead ($182,132 a year), a typical home costs 5.2 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Marblehead 5.2 years
  • Essex 6.1 years
  • Massachusetts 5.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Essex County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Essex County rose 92% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Essex County.

Period County Massachusetts U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.8% +3.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +50% +49% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +92% +87% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Marblehead next to Essex County, Massachusetts and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Marblehead $943,900
  • Essex $619,100
  • Massachusetts $562,100
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Marblehead $1,764
  • Essex $1,756
  • Massachusetts $1,762
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Marblehead $182,132
  • Essex $101,883
  • Massachusetts $103,960
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Marblehead next to Essex County and Massachusetts
Measure Marblehead Essex County Massachusetts U.S.
Typical home value $943,900 $619,100 $562,100 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,764 $1,756 $1,762 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $182,132 $101,883 $103,960 $80,734
Households that own their home 85% 64% 63% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $8,309 $6,430 $5,992 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.88% 1.04% 1.07% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 50% 57% 52% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Essex County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Marblehead

For a typical $943,900 home in Marblehead, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Marblehead's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $7,933a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $33,037
    Cash to close
    $61,354
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $569

  • Conventional, 5% down $7,608a month

    Down payment
    $47,195
    Cash to close
    $75,512
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $448

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $6,201a month

    Down payment
    $188,780
    Cash to close
    $217,097
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $7,074a month

    Down payment
    $141,585
    Cash to close
    $169,902
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Marblehead and for Essex County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Marblehead

0.88%of the home’s value each year

$8,309 a year for the typical owner in Marblehead.

  • Marblehead 0.88%
  • Essex 1.04%
  • Massachusetts 1.07%

What Massachusetts publishes Local senior exemption (clause 41C) (Massachusetts General Court (General Laws))

Exemptions and deadlines in Massachusetts

Flood risk in Essex County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Essex County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.8%
7,538
Of those, with NFIP insurance
58%
County Massachusetts U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.8% 3% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 58% 50% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Marblehead

Typical rent in Marblehead is $1,764 a month: about the same as the county. In Marblehead, 50% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for each area of Essex County; Marblehead is in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($3,008 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $57.85 an hour working full time.

Fair market rent by size in Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $2,440 $46.92 $97,600
1 bedroom $2,518 $48.42 $100,720
2 bedrooms $3,008 $57.85 $120,320
3 bedrooms $3,584 $68.92 $143,360
4 bedrooms $3,953 $76.02 $158,120

HUD splits this county into 2 areas with different fair market rents: for 2 bedrooms they run from $2,367 to $3,008. The table by area, below, shows which one each town is in.

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

Fair market rent by HUD area in Essex County

HUD splits this county into 2 areas, each with its own fair market rent. Find your town in its area's list; the housing agency tells you which one it uses for your voucher.

HUD area Studio1 bd2 bd3 bd4 bdHourly wage, 2 bd
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area The area where most people liveMarblehead is in this area
24 towns in this area

Amesbury city, Beverly city, Danvers town, Essex town, Gloucester city, Hamilton town, Ipswich town, Lynn city, Lynnfield town, Manchester-by-the-Sea town, Marblehead town, Middleton town, Nahant town, Newbury town, Newburyport city, Peabody city, Rockport town, Rowley town, Salem city, Salisbury town, Saugus town, Swampscott town, Topsfield town, Wenham town

 $2,440$2,518$3,008$3,584$3,953$57.85
Lawrence, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area
10 towns in this area

Andover town, Boxford town, Georgetown town, Groveland town, Haverhill city, Lawrence city, Merrimac town, Methuen city, North Andover town, West Newbury town

 $1,677$1,809$2,367$2,820$3,111$45.52

HUD fair market rent by area and size, per month, Fiscal year 2027. The wage is what full-time work must pay to rent 2 bedrooms without spending more than 30% of income. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027 Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD)

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Marblehead

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Marblehead is in ZIP code 01945.

For 2 bedrooms it is $2,650.

  • 01945 $2,650$3,180

A ZIP code counts for Marblehead when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Marblehead

HUD lists one building with rents for lower incomes in Marblehead.

  • Sewell Building 156 Elm St, Marblehead 4 low-income homes · In service since 1994

See all 201 buildings in Essex County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Marblehead

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 4 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Essex County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Marblehead

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Marblehead or Essex County. The ones below are statewide in Massachusetts: they work in Marblehead the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Massachusetts

  • MassHousing Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Massachusetts

    Massachusetts state agency second mortgage for the down payment: up to $30,000 at 0% and deferred, or up to $25,000 at 2% or 3% over 15 years, for first-time buyers with eligible income. Offered by MassHousing.

    DeferredRepayable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Marblehead

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Marblehead, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Chelsea Restoration Corporation

    154 Pearl St Ofc 2, Chelsea · 11 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (617) 889-2277

  • Community Service Network, Inc.

    91 Summer St, Stoneham · 12 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (781) 438-9254

  • Neighborhood of Affordable Housing, Inc.

    143 Border St, East Boston · 12 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (617) 567-5882

Every agency in Essex County All counseling agencies in Massachusetts

Help in Spanish near Marblehead

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Marblehead

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Essex County is named for Marblehead or Essex County.

20 other authorities have an office in Essex County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Essex County

These cities are also in Essex County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Essex County Housing in Massachusetts
See 4 more cities in Essex County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Marblehead, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Essex County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Marblehead.

All guides
Two girls write and draw together at the living-room table.

Questions

Housing questions about Marblehead

Short answers with the numbers for Marblehead and all of Essex County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Marblehead?

The typical home value in Marblehead is $943,900, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Essex County it is $619,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Marblehead?

Typical rent in Marblehead is $1,764 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Essex County is $2,367–$3,008.

What is the FHA loan limit in Marblehead?

Marblehead uses the FHA limit for all of Essex County (2026): $962,550 for a one-unit home and $1,851,100 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Marblehead?

The typical homeowner in Marblehead pays $8,309 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.88% of the home’s value; in Essex County, the rate is 1.04%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Marblehead?

There are 4 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Essex County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).