Compare towns
Lee vs Merrimac vs Ogunquit vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Merrimac has the most kids (16.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Lee | Merrimac | Ogunquit | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
6,748 |
1,379Lowest |
9,281Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Lowest 27% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Merrimac and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38k 66% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,352±$325Lowest 4% below U.S. |
— | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #209 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA | — | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Pentucket | — | Triton |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.