Compare towns

Casco vs Salem vs Otisfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Casco has the most people working from home (26.6%).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Otisfield has the most affordable homes ($317k median).

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.

MeasureCascoSalemOtisfield
People
Population
3,696
44,795Highest
1,951Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
52±3.3
34% above U.S.
39.3±1.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
56.8±4.8Highest
46% above U.S.
Otisfield and Casco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±1.7
U.S.: 22%
16.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Otisfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.3%±7.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.7%±1.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Casco and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.4%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$69,313±$19kLowest
14% below U.S.
$85,153±$5kHighest
5% above U.S.
$84,271±$15k
4% above U.S.
Salem and Otisfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$355,500±$58k
7% above U.S.
$542,800±$18kHighest
63% above U.S.
$317,200±$35kLowest
5% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$184
about the U.S. average
$1,836±$84Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,300±$872Lowest
8% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,085
about the U.S. average
$6,114Highest
96% above U.S.
$2,652Lowest
15% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39.7%±35.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.9%±4.8
U.S.: 51.1%
77.3%±92.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Otisfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90%
U.S.: 65.2%
49.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
15% above U.S.
29 minLowest
8% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
26.6%±10Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
18.8%±6.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Casco and Salem 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 — #248 of 282 in MA —
School district RSU 61/MSAD 61 Salem RSU 17/MSAD 17
High school in town None in town Salem High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.