Cost of Living in Marblehead
Marblehead's cost profile pairs a real, substantial housing value with a comparatively moderate property tax rate that still produces a substantial bill given the town's high home values.
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Learn moreA real, substantial average home value
The average Marblehead home value is $950,555 (2026), up 2.2% year-over-year. The town's median single-family sale price rose 14% to $1,100,000 in 2024, and Marblehead Neck specifically -- a distinct peninsula neighborhood -- runs meaningfully higher, at an average $1,060,024.
A comparatively moderate rate, a substantial bill
For fiscal 2026, Marblehead's property tax rate is $8.59 per $1,000 of assessed value (an effective rate of 0.91%, below the national median of 1.02%) -- yet the median tax bill still rose to roughly $10,264, because Marblehead's rising home assessments (a median assessment of $1,195,000 for FY2026) outpaced the rate cut.
Statewide taxes apply the same way here as anywhere in Massachusetts
Massachusetts's uniform 6.25% statewide sales tax (no local add-on) and flat 5% state income tax rate (plus a 4% surtax above $1,107,750 of taxable income) apply identically in Marblehead -- see massachusetts.js for the full statewide disclosure.
Key takeaways
- Average home value is $950,555 (2026); median single-family sale price rose 14% to $1,100,000 in 2024.
- Marblehead's effective property tax rate (0.91%) runs below the national median, but the resulting bill (roughly $10,264) is substantial given high home values.
- Massachusetts's statewide 6.25% sales tax and flat 5% income tax (plus the 4% millionaires surtax) apply identically here.
- Marblehead Neck specifically carries a meaningfully higher price point than the town average.
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