Compare towns
Beverly vs Ogunquit vs Salem vs Norwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
Norwood has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Beverly | Ogunquit | Salem | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
1,379Lowest |
44,795Highest |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwood and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11k 33% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest 25% above U.S. |
— | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$2,116±$83Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 119% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$6,111 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beverly and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
54% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | — | Salem | Norwood |
| High school in town | Beverly High | — | Salem High | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
11.5 |
| 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.