Compare towns
Framingham vs Marblehead vs Ogunquit 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
Framingham has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k 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.
| Measure | Framingham | Marblehead | Ogunquit | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
20,413 |
1,379Lowest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.1±2 26% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Marblehead and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S. |
— | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 121% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Marblehead 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Marblehead | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Marblehead High | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.7 |
— | 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.