Compare towns

Danvers vs Ogunquit vs Kennebunk 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

Danvers has the highest household income ($125k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Kennebunk has the most affordable homes ($453k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).

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.

MeasureDanversOgunquitKennebunkSalem
People
Population
28,098
1,379Lowest
6,221
44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±3
16% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
54.3±7.2
40% above U.S.
39.3±1.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±2
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.1%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±1.7
U.S.: 22%
Kennebunk and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.6%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.9%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$95,169±$21k
18% above U.S.
$85,153±$5kLowest
5% above U.S.
Danvers and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$644,200±$23k
94% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$452,800±$17kLowest
36% above U.S.
$542,800±$18k
63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
—
$1,466±$261Lowest
4% above U.S.
$1,836±$84
30% above U.S.
Danvers and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$4,771
53% above U.S.
$6,114
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.8%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.3%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
54.9%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Salem and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
49.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
8% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
36.6%±10.2
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Ogunquit and Kennebunk 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 #91 of 282 in MA — #9 of 133 in ME #248 of 282 in MA
School district — — — Salem
High school in town — — — Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
9.8
On TownTapestry
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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.