Compare towns

Ogunquit vs Salisbury 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

Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($479k 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.

MeasureOgunquitSalisburySalem
People
Population
1,379Lowest
9,281
44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
51.3±3.5
32% above U.S.
39.3±1.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Salem and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$93,361±$6k
16% above U.S.
$85,153±$5kLowest
5% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$478,700±$27kLowest
44% above U.S.
$542,800±$18k
63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,691±$411Lowest
20% above U.S.
$1,836±$84Highest
30% above U.S.
Salem and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,473Lowest
43% above U.S.
$4,604
48% above U.S.
$6,114Highest
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.9%±11.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.9%±4.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Salisbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
49.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.8%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #240 of 282 in MA #248 of 282 in MA
School district — Triton Salem
High school in town — None in town Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.8
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.