Compare towns
Amherst Town vs Ogunquit vs Pelham vs Medford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst Town has the youngest population (median age 21.4).
Ogunquit has the oldest population (median age 62.8).
Pelham has the most kids (21% under 18).
Medford has the highest household income ($130k).
Amherst Town is a college town. 59.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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.
| Measure | Amherst Town | Ogunquit | Pelham | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 38,182 |
1,379 |
1,335Lowest |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.4±0.2Lowest 45% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45±8.4 16% above U.S. |
35.9±1 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±1.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
64.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 59.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,968±$7kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
$129,540±$8kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Medford and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,900±$21k 46% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$447,600±$33kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$755,500±$23k 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$93 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,205±$560Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,509±$94Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,787Highest 182% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,472 140% above U.S. |
$6,286 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.1%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amherst Town and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 44.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.8%±7.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Pelham 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 | #58 of 282 in MA | — | — | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amherst · Amherst-Pelham | — | Pelham | Medford |
| High school in town | Amherst Regional High | — | None in town | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | — | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.