Compare towns
Marlborough vs Ogunquit vs Milford 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
Marlborough has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Milford has the most affordable homes ($477k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Marlborough | Ogunquit | Milford | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 41,647 |
1,379Lowest |
30,431 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1.3Lowest 4% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
38.9±1.8 about the U.S. average |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Marlborough and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,968±$9k 14% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$96,365±$4k 19% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,100±$28k 54% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$476,700±$12kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,871±$123 32% above U.S. |
— | $1,909±$137Highest 35% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Milford and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,747 84% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,869 88% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marlborough and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #215 of 282 in MA | — | #213 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | — | Milford | Salem |
| High school in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | — | Milford High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
— | 11.9Highest |
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.