Compare towns
Ogunquit vs Topsfield 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%).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
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 | Ogunquit | Topsfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,379Lowest |
6,564 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8 8% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Topsfield 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Topsfield | 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.