Compare towns
Deerfield vs Ogunquit vs Salem vs Dalton
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).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% 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 | Deerfield | Ogunquit | Salem | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
1,379Lowest |
44,795Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest 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±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Salem 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% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Ogunquit and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
— | $1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 87% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% 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% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Dalton 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% |
7.4% 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% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #156 of 282 in MA | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | — | Salem | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | — | Salem High | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
10.9 |
| 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.