Compare towns
Marlborough 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
Marlborough has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,647 |
1,379Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest 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. |
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% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±1.5Lowest 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+ | 40.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest 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. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,100±$28kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,871±$123Highest 32% above U.S. |
— | $1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Marlborough and Salem 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. |
$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% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Marlborough and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest 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. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest 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 | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.