Compare towns
Hanson vs Ogunquit vs Salem vs Plympton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanson has the most kids (25% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Plympton has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Hanson | Ogunquit | Salem | Plympton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,927 |
1,379Lowest |
44,795Highest |
2,935 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44±4.3 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.4±4.2 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanson and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,211±$24k 48% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$126,736±$20kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Plympton and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,000±$55kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$517,800±$52k 56% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$555±$148Lowest 61% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,429 106% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$6,628Highest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.8%±40.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Plympton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.2%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #149 of 282 in MA | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #110 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Salem | Plympton |
| High school 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 | 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.