Compare towns
Deerfield vs Ogunquit vs Salem vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Berlin has the highest household income ($121k).
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 | Deerfield | Ogunquit | Salem | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
1,379Lowest |
44,795Highest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Salem and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 87% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Berlin 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | — | Salem | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | — | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 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.