Compare towns
Norwood vs Ogunquit vs Salem vs Canton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Norwood has the youngest population (median age 39).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
Canton has the highest household income ($143k).
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 | Norwood | Ogunquit | Salem | Canton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 31,542 |
1,379Lowest |
44,795Highest |
24,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,030±$11k 33% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Canton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $651,700±$13k 96% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,116±$83 50% above U.S. |
— | $1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
| Canton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,111 96% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #176 of 282 in MA | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Norwood | — | Salem | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton |
| High school in town | Norwood High | — | Salem High | Canton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.