Compare towns
Medford vs Ogunquit vs Malden vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1942).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Malden has the most renters (58.7% rent).
Arlington has the highest household income ($151k).
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 | Medford | Ogunquit | Malden | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 59,354 |
1,379Lowest |
65,906Highest |
46,350 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.9±1 8% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
35.8±1Lowest 8% below U.S. |
41.6±1.3 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Arlington and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Medford and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,540±$8k 60% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$100,606±$6kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$150,701±$5kHighest 87% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,500±$23k 127% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$633,500±$26kLowest 90% above U.S. |
$933,800±$23kHighest 181% above U.S. |
| Arlington and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,509±$94Highest 78% above U.S. |
— | $2,204±$62 56% above U.S. |
$2,082±$76Lowest 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,286 102% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,995 60% above U.S. |
$9,604Highest 208% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Arlington 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 | #203 of 282 in MA | — | #184 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medford | — | Malden | Arlington |
| High school in town | Medford High | — | Malden High | Arlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 16.1Highest |
13.6 |
| 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.