Compare towns
Beverly vs Ogunquit vs Wenham vs Salem
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%).
Wenham has the highest household income ($195k).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% 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 | Beverly | Ogunquit | Wenham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
1,379Lowest |
4,929 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
29.3±9.3Lowest 25% below U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Wenham 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% |
14.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
27.8%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$194,781±$33kHighest 141% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Wenham and Ogunquit 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±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$885,400±$48kHighest 166% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
| Wenham and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest 25% above U.S. |
— | — | $1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Salem and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 119% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,114 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% |
43.3%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Wenham 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | — | #74 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | — | Hamilton-Wenham | Salem |
| High school in town | Beverly High | — | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | — | 9.8Lowest |
| 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.