Compare towns
Amherst Town vs Ogunquit vs Waltham vs Pelham
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).
Waltham has the highest household income ($120k).
Pelham has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Waltham | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 38,182 |
1,379 |
64,902Highest |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.4±0.2Lowest 45% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
34.4±1 12% below U.S. |
45±8.4 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 7.5%±1.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±1.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 10.1%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±6.9 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% |
57.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.8% 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% |
19.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,968±$7kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$120,216±$7kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$113,750±$24k 41% above U.S. |
| Waltham 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. |
$748,700±$27k 125% above U.S. |
$447,600±$33kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$93 18% above U.S. |
— | $2,268±$79Highest 61% above U.S. |
$1,205±$560Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,787Highest 182% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,766 53% above U.S. |
$7,472 140% 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% |
44.7%±4.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.7%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 23.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 44.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.2%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.8%±7.4 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 | — | #217 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Amherst · Amherst-Pelham | — | Waltham | Pelham |
| High school in town | Amherst Regional High | — | Waltham Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.