F
79%
Overall NAT. AVG.
22%
Goods & Services NAT. AVG.
217%
Housing NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.
The cost of living index is based on a national average of 100. For example, if the cost of living is 90, then it is 10% lower than average. If the cost of living is 110, then it is 10% higher than average. The breakdown for each index is as follows: goods & services (33%), groceries (13%), health care (5%), housing (30%), transportation (9%) and utilities (10%). If the cost of living data was unavailable for this city, estimates based upon nearby cities were used.
Index Marblehead Massachusetts National
Cost of living179133100
Goods & Services122122100
Groceries105105100
Health care113113100
Housing317165100
Transportation118118100
Utilities134134100

An Overview of Cost of Living in Marblehead, MA

The cost of living in Marblehead affects the quality of life one can afford in this new location. It allows people to assess whether they can maintain their preferred lifestyle, including housing, leisure activities and dining options. Your total monthly expenditures can varry depending on the area, as well as many other factors. The cost of living in Marblehead is 179, which is 79% higher than the national average. Knowledge of the cost of living can help individuals make informed decisions about retirement savings, investments, and financial goals.

If you value affordability in your search for a new place to live, Marblehead may not be the most suitable option, as it stands out as one of the priciest areas in the entire United States. Only a small fraction of regions have a cost of living that is more than 20% higher than the national average, and regrettably, Marblehead falls into this category, which may not align with your desire for an affordable place to call home.

When it comes to the cost of living in Marblehead, housing costs are a real heavyweight, often hogging a significant chunk of your earnings. Sadly, in this area, housing expenses for both buying and renting were 216.8% more expensive compared to your average city. That means you'll be shelling out more for homes, rents, mortgage rates and insurance.

Everyday goods and services make up 33% of the cost of living index and include things like clothing, personal hygiene products and entertainment which are a large portion of your monthly expenditures. Unfortunately, Marblehead goods and services are 21.6% more expensive than the national average, leaving you with less money at the end of the month.

Is Marblehead Affordable?

Is Marblehead an affordable place to live? That's a valid question to ask when you're thinking about moving to a new city. After all, how much it costs to live somewhere can be a huge factor in your decision. Affordability can be broken down into 3 common categories. The cost of living index (we talked about it earlier), housing expenses and income levels all play a big role in figuring out if a place is affordable. For instance, in Marblehead, the median home price is 282% higher than what most folks pay across the country, and monthly rent prices are 64.6% higher than the usual rates. Income levels in Marblehead come in at $131,293, which is 137.3% higher than the national average.

What Factors can Influence the Cost of Living in Marblehead?

Housing: Elevated demand for housing within coveted locales has the propensity to escalate both property values and rental rates, thereby serving as a primary catalyst for an augmented cost of living. Conversely, areas witnessing diminished housing demand, particularly within less desirable environs, often experience an inversely proportional effect, leading to price reductions and subsequently contributing to a more modest cost of living. In Marblehead, the housing index is 216.8% higher than the national average.

Urbanization: Urban areas with extensive amenities and job opportunities tend to have a higher cost of living due to increased demand for services and relocation, resulting in higher home prices and higher rents. Less densely populated rural areas, or areas with less demand tend to have fewer amenities and slower job growth, which results in a lower cost of living.

Healthcare: Healthcare costs and insurance premiums can fluctuate greatly based on the city or state. Access to healthcare facilities, out-of-pocket expenses for doctor\’s visits, dentist costs, medication costs and specialized care costs can all impact the cost of living. In Marblehead, the healthcare costs are 12.9% higher than the national average.

Where is the Data From?

The Marblehead cost of living data displayed above is derived from the C2ER cost of living index to provide a useful and reasonably accurate measure of living cost differences in urban areas. The index takes into account data from 300 independent researches, covering more than 60 goods and services across 6 different categories, to create an overall index for each area, with 100 being the average. The C2ER index does not include sales or income tax rates in their data, however AreaVibes does include both income and sales tax rates in the overall cost of living score for each area.

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Cost Of Living Quick Facts

  • The cost of living in Marblehead is 34% higher than the Massachusetts average
  • The cost of living in Marblehead is 79% higher than the national average
  • Marblehead housing is 217% higher than the national average
  • Massachusetts general sales tax is 22% higher than the national average
  • Massachusetts state income tax is 93% higher than the national average

Most Affordable Places to Live in and Around Marblehead

See all the best places to live around Marblehead

Compare Marblehead, MA Cost of Living

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      Salary Calculator

      This is how much you would need to earn in
      Price difference in compared to
      Cost of living index
      Goods & Services index
      Groceries index
      Health care index
      Housing index
      Transportation index
      Utilities index

      Median Income & Debt-To-Income Ratio

      Median Income Per Year Per Month Max Budget (28% DTI) Max Budget (36% DTI)
      Owners$159,053$13,254$3,711$4,772
      Renters$61,063$5,089$1,425$1,832
      A good indicator of the general affordability of housing in Marblehead, MA, is the percentage of monthly income that should be spent on housing expenses, otherwise known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). Generally speaking, no more than 28 percent of your total gross income should be spent on your housing expenses and not more than 36 percent of your gross income on total expenses, including debts. In Marblehead, the median monthly income is $159,053 for those who own their own homes. Under the standard rule, that income level would allow for $3,711 to be budgeted for housing expenses each month, at the most. Renters, on the other hand, earn about $61,063, per the median income in the area. That would allow for renters to spend up to $1,425 on monthly rental expenses.

      Massachusetts Sales Tax

      State General Sales Tax With Max Surtax
      Massachusetts 6.25% 6.25%

      Massachusetts Income Tax

      State Income Tax (Low) Income Tax (High)
      Massachusetts 5% 9%

      Goods & Services

      Item Marblehead National avg. Difference
      Haircut $43.72$24.2680.2%
      Beauty Salon $65.56$45.5643.9%
      Toothpaste $3.53$3.704.7%
      Shampoo $1.49$1.2816.4%
      Movie $15.49$12.1327.6%
      Bowling $29.33$18.0063.0%

      Groceries

      Item Marblehead National avg. Difference
      Ground Beef $5.48$5.846.2%
      Fried Chicken $1.45$1.578.0%
      Milk $4.76$4.671.9%
      Potatoes $4.99$4.931.1%
      Pizza $12.52$12.093.6%
      Beer $10.21$10.411.9%

      Health Care

      Item Marblehead National avg. Difference
      Optometrist $123.17$125.682.0%
      Doctor $157.89$135.7816.3%
      Dentist $149.22$113.2931.7%
      Ibuprofen $11.39$10.656.9%
      Lipitor $384.69$468.6017.9%

      Housing

      Item Marblehead National avg. Difference
      Home Price $705,600.00$184,700.00282.0%
      Avg. Mortgage Payment $4,745.89$2,346.69102.2%
      Apartment Rent $1,562.00$949.0064.6%

      Transportation

      Item Marblehead National avg. Difference
      Gasoline $3.43$3.460.9%
      Tire Balancing $97.39$59.9262.5%

      Utilities

      Item Marblehead National avg. Difference
      All Electricity $302.72$193.9956.0%
      Phone $187.85$192.252.3%
      Although the cost of living data is updated regularly, this cost of living information is to be used as estimates only as prices can change on an ongoing basis.

      Nearby cities with low cost of living

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Lynn, MA94,20113635.5%
      Salem, MA43,35013939.2%
      Chelsea, MA39,87814039.5%
      Revere, MA53,40014241.6%
      Saugus, MA28,32614241.9%
      Marblehead, MA20,53017978.5%

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Cost of Living Index National Avg.
      Palm Valley, FL20,54013635.8%
      Adrian, MI20,5508713.2%
      Hammond, LA20,557937.4%
      Woodbridge, NJ20,50012524.5%
      Prunedale, CA20,56016463.9%
      Marblehead, MA20,53017978.5%
      Date & Last Updated: This data reflects 2023 and was released from C2ER in January, 2024; this is the most current data available.